bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Egyptian Propolis on the Susceptibility of LDL to Oxidative Modification and its Antiviral Activity with Special Emphasis on Chemical Composition
Authors: El-Hadya Faten K. Abd , Hegazi Ahmed G. , Wollenweber Eckhard
Published: February 2015

The antioxidant activity of eight Egyptian propolis samples from different localities was evaluated by the antioxidative potential and capacity of the DPPH-ESR signal, superoxide anion generated in the xanthine-xanthine oxidase (XOD) system and low density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation assay. As, F, Is and D samples showed the highest antioxidative capacity and potential, respectively. The El, IsR, Is, D and So samples exhibited highly significant antioxidant activity in the XOD system and in LDL peroxidation assays.

The antiviral activity of propolis samples was investigated. They showed variations in their activity; sample D induced the highest antiviral activity against Newcastle disease virus and infectious bursal disease virus.

42 Polyphenolic compounds were identified by HPLC; 13 aromatic acids, esters and alcohols were present, 29 flavonoids were identified, 6 of them being new to propolis.
Screening for Free Radical Scavenging and Cell Aggregation Inhibitory Activities by Secondary Metabolites from Turkish Verbascum species
Authors: Tatli I. Irem , Takamatsu Satoshi , Khan Ikhlas A. , Akdemir Zeliha S.
Published: February 2015

Free radical scavenging and cell aggregation inhibitory activities of 36 secondary metabolites isolated from the methanolic extracts of Verbascum cilicicum Boiss., V. lasianthum Boiss. ex Bentham, V. pterocalycinum var. mutense Hub.-Mor., and V. salviifolium Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) were investigated. The isolated compounds, 6-O-vaniloyl ajugol (1), ilwensisaponin A (2), ilwensisaponin C (3), verbascoside (4), β-hydroxyacteoside (5), martynoside (6), poliumoside (7), forsythoside B (8), angoroside A (9), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-9′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (11), apigenin 7-O-β- glucopyranoside (12), luteolin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (13), luteolin 3′-O-β-glucopyranoside (14) and chrysoeriol 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (15), exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of bioautographic and spectrophotometric DPPH activities. Verbascoside (4) was the most active (IC50 4.0 μg/ml) comparing it to vitamin C (IC50 4.4 μg/ml) to inhibit phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced peroxide-catalyzed oxidation of 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) by reactive oxygen species (ROS) within human promyelocytic HL-60 cells. Ilwensisaponin A (2) (MIC 6.9 μg/ml) showed moderate in vitro activity on lymphocyte-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)/intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-mediated aggregation using the HL-60 cell line [positive control was cytochalasin B (MIC 2.3 μg/ml)]. None of the other compounds showed free radical scavenging and cell aggregation inhibitory activities.
In vitro Anticholinesterase Activity of Various Alkaloids
Authors: Orhan Ilkay , Naz Qamar , Kartal Murat , Tosun Fatma , Şener Bilge
Published: February 2015

In the current study, a number of alkaloids including retamine, cytisine, and sparteine (quinolizidine-type), yohimbine and vincamine (indole-type), scopolamine and atropine (tropane- type), colchicine (tropolone-type), allantoin (imidazolidine-type), trigonelline (pyridine- type) as well as octopamine, synephrine, and capsaicin (exocyclic amine-type) were tested in vitro for their inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) at 1 mg/ml concentration by the Ellman method using an ELISA microplate reader. Among the alkaloids tested, only capsaicin exerted a remarkable inhibitory effect towards both AChE and BChE [(62.7 ± 0.79)% and (75.3 ± 0.98)%, respectively]. While the rest of the alkaloids did not show any significant inhibition against AChE, three of the alkaloids, namely retamine, sparteine, and yohimbine, exerted a noteworthy anti-BChE effect as compared to galanthamine, the reference drug.
Seasonal and Intraspecific Variation of Flavonoids and Proanthocyanidins in Cecropia glaziovi Sneth. Leaves from Native and Cultivated Specimens
Authors: Luengas-Caicedo Pilar Ester , Braga Fernão Castro , Brandão Geraldo Célio , Oliveira Alaìde Braga de
Published: February 2015

Cecropia glaziovi Sneth. (syn. C. glaziovii, C. glazioui) (Cecropiaceae) is a South American medicinal plant whose antihypertensive activity is attributed to its flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents. The seasonal and intraspecific variations of these two classes of compounds in C. glaziovi leaves were assayed by spectrophotometry in samples of young and mature leaves collected from native, cultivated and micropropagated trees in the dry and rainy periods of the year. The total flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents ranged from (0.64 ± 0.21)% to (3.44 ± 0.45)% and (2.23 ± 0.92)% to (5.36 ± 0.95)%, respectively, among the assayed populations. The flavonoid contents in native plants did not differ statistically between young and mature leaves within the same season, whereas it was higher in both young and mature leaves collected in the dry compared to those collected in the rainy period. For cultivated specimens, the results pointed to higher contents in the dry season, whereas no significant difference was observed for leaves of micropropagated (clone) plants collected in both periods. For the assayed populations, higher proanthocyanidin contents were found in the dry season, excepting the micropropagated (clone) plants, whose contents did not differ significantly between the dry and the rainy periods. Leaves of micropropagated (clone) and cultivated specimens showed less intraspecific variation in the flavonoid and proanthocyanidin contents than those from native trees. These features suggest that, as expected, cultivation of C. glaziovi is of great interest providing raw herbal material of better uniform quality.
Vulgarenol, a Sesquiterpene Isolated from Magnolia grandiflora, Induces Nitric Oxide Synthases II and III Overexpression in Guinea Pig Hearts
Authors: Valle-Mondragón Leonardo del , Tenorio-López Fermín Alejandro , Zarco-Olvera Gabriela , Pastelín-Hernández Gustavo
Published: February 2015

Vulgarenol, a sesquiterpene isolated from Magnolia grandiflora flower petals, decreased coronary vascular resistance in the Langendorff isolated and perfused heart model, when compared to the control group [(15.2 × 107 ± 1.0 × 107) dyn s cm-5 vs. (36.8 X 107 ± 1.2 × 107) dyn s cm-5]. Our data suggest that this coronary vasodilator effect probably involved inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase overexpression (6.8 and 4.2 times over control, respectively), which correlated with increases in nitric oxide release [(223 ± 9) pmol mL-1 vs. (61 ±11) pmol mL-1] and in cyclic guanosine monophosphate production [(142 ± 8) pmol mg-1 of tissue vs. (44±10) pmol mg-1 of tissue], as compared to control values. This effect was antagonized by 3 μm gadolinium(III) chloride, 100 μm N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and 10 μm 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,2-a]quinoxalin-1-one. Hence, the vulgarenol-elicited coronary vasodilator effect could be mediated by the nitric oxide-soluble guanylyl cyclase pathway.
Biosynthesis of Chlorogenic Acids in Growing and Ripening Fruits of Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora Plants
Authors: Koshiro Yukiko , Jackson Mel C. , Katahira Riko , Wang Ming-Li , Nagai Chifumi , Ashihara Hiroshi
Published: February 2015

Chlorogenic acids are major secondary metabolites found in coffee seeds. The accumulation of chlorogenic acids and free quinic acids was studied in Coffea arabica cv. Tall Mokka and Coffea canephora seeds. Growth stages are specified from I to V, corresponding to rapid expansion and pericarp growth (I), endosperm formation (II), mature (green) (III), ripening (pink) (IV), and fully ripened (red) (V) stages. We detected monocaffeoylquinic acids (3CQA, 4CQA and 5CQA), dicaffeoylquinic acids (3,4diCQA, 3,5diCQA and 4,5diCQA) and a monoferuloylquinic acid (5FQA) in whole fruits (stage I), pericarps and seeds. The most abundant chlorogenic acid was 5CQA, which comprised 50-60% of the total of C. arabica and 45-50% of C. canephora seeds. The content of dicaffeoylquinic acid, mainly 3,5d diCQA, was high in C. canephora. A high content of 5FQA was found in seeds of stages III to V, especially in C. canephora. Total chlorogenic acids were accumulated up to 14 mg per fruit in C. arabica and 17 mg in C. canephora, respectively. In contrast, free quinic acid varied from 0.4-2.0 mg (C. arabica) and 0.2-4.0 mg (C. canephora) per fruit during growth. High biosynthetic activity of 5CQA, which was estimated via the incorporation of [U-14C]phenylalanine into chlorogenic acids, was found in young fruits (perisperm and pericarp) in stage I, and in developing seeds (endosperm) in stages II and III. The biosynthetic activity of chlorogenic acids was clearly reduced in ripening and ripe seeds, especially in C. canephora. Transcripts of PAL1, C3′H and CCoAMT, three genes related to the chlorogenic acid biosynthesis, were detected in every stage of growth, although the amounts were significantly less in stage V. Of these genes, CCoAMT, a gene for FQA biosynthesis, was expressed more weakly in stage I. The transcript level of CCoAMT was higher in seeds than in pericarp, but the reverse was found in PAL1. The pattern of expression of genes for the CQA and FQA synthesis is roughly related to the estimated biosynthetic activity, and to the accumulation pattern of chlorogenic acids.
Inheritance and Expression of Transgenes through Anther Culture of Transgenic Hot Pepper
Authors: Kima Young Soon , Kuk Yong In , Kim Kyung-Moon
Published: February 2015

Anther cultures have been developed from transgenic donor peppers carrying HPT/J1-1. Eight out of sixteen plants produced from an anther culture set pepper fruits. Southern blot analysis of donors revealed two independent plants with a single copy of the integrated transgene. PCR and RT-PCR results showed the inheritance of HPT/J1-1 and expression of J1-1 in A1. All A1 progeny derived from transgenic anthers had resistance to hygromycin. They grew normally and showed similar phenotypes to the wild-type. Therefore, the use of an anther culture system coupled with genetic transformation in breeding programs will greatly facilitate the genetic improvement of pepper plants.
Phenolic Constituents from the Wood of Morus australis with Cytotoxic Activity
Authors: Ferlinahayati  , Syah Yana M. , Juliawaty Lia D. , Achmad Sjamsul A. , Hakim Euis H. , Takayama Hiromitsu , Said Ikram M. , Latip Jalifah
Published: February 2015

A new methylated flavonol, 5,7,2 ′,4 ′-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxyflavone (1), had been isolated from the methanol extract of the wood of Morus australis, along with nine known compounds, kuwanon C (2), morusin (3), morachalcone A (4), oxyresveratrol (5), 4 ′-(2-methyl-2-buten- 4-yl)oxyresveratrol (6), moracins M (7) and C (8), alboctalol (9), and macrourin B (10). The structures of these compounds were determined based on spectral evidence, including UV, IR, NMR, and mass spectra. Cytotoxic properties of compounds 1 →10 were evaluated against murine leukemia P-388 cells. The prenylated stilbene 6 and 2-arylbenzofuran 8, and morusin (3) were found to have strong cytotoxic effects with IC50 values of 6.9, 8.7, and 10.1 μM, respectively.
Antimicrobial Activity of 2,5-Dihydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone from Embelia schimperi
Authors: Awino Ooko Selline , Kiprono Paul Chepkwony , Keronei Kipkemboi Pius , Kaberia Festus , Obala Andrew Ambogo
Published: February 2015

Chromatographic separation of an ethyl acetate extract from Embelia schimperi led to the isolation of a new compound identified as 2,5-dihydroxy-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1) on the basis of spectroscopic and physical data. The plant’s crude extract and pure compound 1 were assayed for in vitro antimicrobial activity against clinical strains of Salmonella spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Cryptococcus neoformans, Shigella dysentriae and Staphylococcus aureus. Disc diffusion method was used and zones of inhibition, after respective incubation periods, were used to quantify antimicrobial activity. Standard antibiotics namely: augmentin, cotrimoxazole, gentamycin, tetracycline and lyncomycin were used as controls.

The crude extract was inactive while the pure compound 1 showed significant activities against Salmonella spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Cryptococcus neoformans, Shigella dysentriae and Staphylococcus aureus with zones of inhibition ranging from 10−20 mm. The most sensitive microorganism was P. aeruginosa while C. neoformans was insensitive to both the crude extract and compound 1.
Flavonoids in Helichrysum pamphylicum Inhibit Mammalian Type I DNA Topoisomerase
Authors: Topcu Zeki , Ozturk Bintug , Kucukoglu Ozlem , Kilinc Emrah
Published: February 2015

DNA topoisomerases are important targets for cancer chemotherapy. We investigated the effects of a methanolic extract of Helichrysum pamphylicum on mammalian DNA topoisomerase I via in vitro plasmid supercoil relaxation assays. The extracts manifested a considerable inhibition of the enzyme’s activity in a dose-dependent manner. We also performed a HPLC analysis to identify the flavonoid content of the H. pamphylicum extract and tested the identified flavonoids; luteolin, luteolin-4-glucoside, naringenin, helichrysinA and isoquercitrin, on DNA topoisomerase I activity. The measurement of the total antioxidant capacity of the flavonoid standards suggested that the topoisomerase inhibition might be correlated with the antioxidant capacity of the plant.
Changes in Foliar Proline Concentration of Osmotically Stressed Barley
Authors: Kocheva Konstantina V. , Georgiev Georgi I.
Published: February 2015

The amino acid proline is accumulated in plant tissues in response to a variety of stresses. The existence of two routes for its biosynthesis is well documented. However, little is known about the contribution of each pathway to the accumulation of free proline under stress conditions. In the present study young barley plants were subjected to osmotic stress by treating their roots with 25% polyethylene glycol. Prior to stress imposition roots were incubated for 24 h in nutrient solution containing proline or one of its metabolic precursors: glutamate and ornithine. Free proline quantity in the leaves was measured before and after stress. Relative water content (RWC) was used as a measure of the plant water status. Foliar proline levels showed a significant increase in ornithine- and proline-pretreated plants compared to the control. Nevertheless, no considerable changes in leaf RWC were observed. It was shown that before stress application only ornithine but not glutamate was immediately metabolized to proline. Under stress conditions, however, both precursors were converted into proline. The possible role of this amino acid in the processes of post stress recovery is discussed.
Bag Culture: A Method for Root-Root Co-Culture
Authors: Mohagheghzadeh Abdolali , Gholami Azra , Hemmati Shiva , Dehshahri Shadab
Published: February 2015

A method named “bag culture” was developed for coculturing of Linum persicum (section Syllinum) and L. austriacum (section Linum) hairy roots. For this propose L. austriacum and L. persicum hairy root cultures were established using Agrobacterium rhizogenes in McCown medium. L. persicum hairy roots in bags (1 mm2 mesh) were successfully grown together with L. austriacum hairy roots. The amounts of podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin (MPTOX) produced by L. persicum hairy root cultures were detected using HPLC. The results indicated that the amounts of both lignans and growth indexes of the two hairy roots decreased, that may be partly due to a competition between the two types of culture in using precursors of biosynthetic metabolites and the amount of culture medium which is available for each hairy root. However, MPTOX (0.17 g/100 g DW) and PTOX (0.02 g/100 g DW) levels of the L. persicum single culture in bag were significantly higher than of the other cultures which may be due to the immobilization effect of the bag.
Identification of Ellagic Acid Derivatives in Methanolic Extracts from Qualea Species
Authors: Nasser Ana L. M. , Carli Camila B. A. , Rodrigues Clenilson M. , Maia Danielle C. G. , Carlos Iracilda Z. , Eberlin Marcos N. , Hiruma-Lima Clélia A. , Vilegas Wagner
Published: February 2015

The methanolic extract from the barks of the medicinal plant Qualea parviflora (Vochysiaceae) was fractionated by column chromatography over silica gel followed by gel permeation over Sephadex LH-20 to give 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid-4-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3-Omethylellagic acid-4′-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (2), 3,3′,4-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4′-O-β-dglucopyranoside (3), and 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid (4), together with triterpenes and saponins. We also performed comparative analyses among this species and Q. grandiflora and Q. multiflora using high-pressure liquid chromatography. The biological assays showed that, when compared to the standard ellagic acid, compounds 1-4 are less cytotoxic but have a lower capacity of stimulating murine peritoneal macrophages to release nitric oxide and tumoural-α necrose factor.
Trypanocidal Activity of Abietane Diterpenoids from the Roots of Craniolaria annua
Authors: Herrera Julio C. , Troncone Graciela , Henríquez Diana , Urdaneta Neudo
Published: February 2015

A chloroform extract from roots of Craniolaria annua provided six new C-11 unsubstituted abietanes, 14-hydroxy-6,12-dione-7,9(11),13-abietatriene (1), 14-hydroxy-12-oxo-7,9(11),13- abietatriene (2), 6,12,14-trihydroxyabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-7-one (3), ar-abietatriene-12-ol- 6,7-dione-14,16-oxide (4), ar-abietatriene-12,16-diol-14,16-oxide (5) and ar-abietatriene-12-ol- 7-one-14,16-oxide (6), and two known compounds, ferruginol and stigmasterol. The structures of both the new and known compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. Abietane 1 gave 14-hydroxy-6-oxoferruginol (1A) upon treatment with NaBH4. Abietanes 1, 1A, 3-5 and ferruginol showed cytotoxic effects against trypomastigote and epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi and against fibroblastic Vero cells.
Bioactive Furanoeremophilanes from Senecio otites Kunze ex DC.
Authors: Domínguez Dulce M. , Reina Matías , Villarroel Luis , Fajardo Victor , González-Coloma Azucena
Published: February 2015

The furanoeremophilanes 6β-angeloyloxy-1, 10-dehydrofuranoeremophilan-9-one (1), 6β- hydroxy-1, 10-dehydrofuranoeremophilan-9-one (2) and 6β-propionyloxy-1, 10-dehydrofuranoeremophilan- 9-one (3) were isolated from Senecio otites, their structures elucidated by spectral analyses, and their insecticidal and phytotoxic properties evaluated. Compounds 1-3 proved to be effective aphid antifeedants against Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi and had postingestive negative effects on Spodoptera littoralis larvae. These compounds did not have any phytotoxic effects on Lactuca sativa.
Inhibition of Acetylcholinesterase Activity by Dihydro-β-agarofuran Sesquiterpenes Isolated from Chilean Celastraceae
Authors: Alarcón Julio , Astudillo Luís , Gutierrez Margarita
Published: February 2015

A series of agarofuran compounds isolated from Chilean Celastraceae were evaluated in vitro for their cholinesterase inhibitory activities by UV spectroscopy.
Antimutagenic Efficacy of Some Natural Compounds on Cyclophosphamide-Induced p53 Alterations
Authors: Gouda Eman M. , Elbehairy Adel M. , Ghoneim Magdy A.
Published: February 2015

Mutations in the p53 tumour suppressor gene have been associated with chemical carcinogens. Natural antimutagens are promising modulators for reducing the cancer risk. The present study was carried out to assess the protective efficacy of some natural antimutagens against p53 alterations. We investigated the ability of curcumin (100 mg/kg BW) and chlorophyllin (3 mg/kg BW) pretreatment, for three times per week for three successive weeks, to inhibit mutations induced by intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 40 mg/kg BW of cyclophosphamide (CP). Forty male albino rats were assigned into four groups: control nontreated group, CP-treated group, curcumin-CP-treated group, and chlorophyllin-CP-treated group. Liver samples were collected for DNA isolation two days after CP injection. The isolated DNA was used in single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified products of four regions: two in exon 5, one in exon 6, and one in exon 7. The amplified products of p53 different regions were found to be in the expected molecular size of the designed primers. SSCP analysis of these amplified products showed that CP-induced mutation in the p53 gene was found only in exon 7 shifting its electrophoretic mobility. Chlorophyllin treatment prior to CP injection had a more potent protective efficacy (80%) than that with curcumin (33.3%).
Uptake of S-(3-Amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine by Caco-2 Cells
Authors: Schwend Thomas , Schabacker Jens , Wetterauer Bernhard , Wink Michael
Published: February 2015

Acrylamide is a reactive neurotoxin with a high intestinal bioavailability. Recently we have shown that under the pH regime of the gut acrylamide can react with proteins and that this reaction reduces the uptake of acrylamide in a gut model. On the other hand, using radioactive labeled acrylamide, Bjellaas et al. [Toxicol. Sci. 100, 374-380 (2007)] showed that in vivo the vast majority of orally administered acrylamide is absorbed and excreted as N-acetyl-S- (3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine with the urine. Therefore, we tested whether intestinal proteases can degrade a protein with acrylamide bound to cysteine residues. Furthermore we tested whether the product of this reaction, S-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine, can pass the intestinal barrier. Here we showed that S-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine is indeed a product of proteolytic degradation of acrylamide-treated proteins. Using Caco-2 cells as a gut model, we further showed that the non-protein amino acid S-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine is a substrate for the neutral and cationic amino acid transporter system. Hence we concluded that protein-bound acrylamide can be released in the intestine and that the resulting product S-(3-amino-3-oxopropyl)-cysteine is transported through the intestinal barrier and later excreted via the urine.
D-(+)-Pinitol, a Component of the Heartwood of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb.
Authors: Raya-Gonzalez David , Pamatz-Bolanõs Teresa , Rio-Torres Rosa E. del , Martinez- Munõz Rosa E. , Ron-Echeverria Oscar , Martinez-Pacheco Mauro M.
Published: February 2015

d-(+)-Pinitol, a natural product of the group of cyclitols, was purified for the first time from an aqueous extract of the heartwood of Enterolobium cyclocarpum, and its chemical structure was determined.
Simultaneous Extraction of Bioactive Limonoid Aglycones and Glucoside from Citrus aurantium L. Using Hydrotropy
Authors: Dandekar Deepak V. , Jayaprakasha Guddadarangavvanahally K. , Patil Bhimanagouda S.
Published: February 2015

Citrus limonoids were demonstrated to possess potential biological activities in reducing the risk of certain diseases. Limonoids are present in citrus fruits in the form of aglycones and glucosides. At present, limonoid aglycones and limonoid glucosides are extracted in multiple steps using different solvents. In order to understand their potential bioactivity, it may be beneficial to isolate and purify these compounds using environment friendly methods. A new method of extraction and purification of limonoids was established using a hydrotrope polystyrene adsorbent resin. Extraction of aglycones and glucosides was achieved in a single step, using an aqueous solution of sodium cumene sulphonate (NaDCuS). Sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) seed powder was extracted with 2 m NaDCuS solution at 45 °C for 6 h. The filtered extract was diluted with water and loaded on an SP 700 adsorbent column. The column was washed with distilled water to remove the hydrotrope and then eluted using water and methanol in different compositions to obtain three compounds. The structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by NMR spectroscopy as deacetyl nomilinic acid glucoside (DNAG), deacetyl nomilin (DAN) and limonin (LIM)
Trypanocidal Activity of Quinonemethide Triterpenoids from Cheiloclinium cognatum (Hippocrateaceae)
Authors: Liaõ Luciano M. , Silva Gilmar A. , Monteiro Marcos R. , Albuquerque Sérgio
Published: February 2015

We report the trypanocidal activity of quinonemethide triterpenoids isolated from root extracts of Cheiloclinium cognatum, a plant of the Hippocrateaceae family, collected in the Cerrado Reserve at Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil. The trypanocidal activity assays showed an effect on the blood trypomastigote forms of the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi where tingenone and tingenol demonstrated activity on the parasite. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data, particularly COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments, and chemical transformations
Maximizing Hydrogen Production by Cyanobacteria
Authors: Bothe Hermann , Winkelmann Stefanie , Boison Gudrun
Published: February 2015

When incubated anaerobically, in the light, in the presence of C2H2 and high concentrations of H2, both Mo-grown Anabaena variabilis and either Mo- or V-grown Anabaena azotica produce large amounts of H2 in addition to the H2 initially added. In contrast, C2H2- reduction is diminished under these conditions. The additional H2-production mainly originates from nitrogenase with the V-enzyme being more effective than the Mo-protein. This enhanced H2-production in the presence of added H2 and C2H2 should be of interest in approaches to commercially exploit solar energy conversion by cyanobacterial photosynthesis for the generation of molecular hydrogen as a clean energy source
Secondary Metabolites from Nonhost Plants Affect the Motility and Viability of Phytopathogenic Aphanomyces cochlioides Zoospores
Authors: Islam Tofazzal
Published: February 2015

The motile zoospores of the damping-off pathogen Aphanomyces cochlioides aggregate on host plants (e. g., sugar beet, spinach) guided by the host-specific plant signal cochliophilin A before infection. To assess the potential role of secondary metabolites in nonhost resistance, acetone extracts of 200 nonhost traditional medicinal plants from Chinese and Bangladeshi origins were tested for the motility behaviour of A. cochlioides zoospores using a particle bioassay method. Nearly one third of the tested plant extracts exhibited diverse deleterious activities such as repellent, stimulant, motility halting and lysis against A. cochlioides zoospores. Among these active plants, an extract of the Chinese medicinal plant Dalbergia odorifera displayed potent repellent activity toward zoospores. Chromatographic separation of D. odorifera constituents revealed that the repellent activity was regulated by the cumulative effect of three motility-affecting isoflavonoids, viz. (±)-medicarpin (repellent at 150 μg/ml), (-)-claussequinone (stimulant at 100 μg/ml) and formononetin (stimulant and attractant at 50 μg/ml). A mixture (1:1:1, w/w/w) of these three compounds exhibited only repellent activity toward zoospores at a concentration lower than 50 μg/ml. These results suggest that nonhost plants might possess potential bioactive secondary metabolites to ward off zoosporic phytopathogens
Effect of Polyamines on Glutathione Reductase Activity in Spinach
Authors: Erat Mustafa , Ozturk Lokman , Casano Leonardo M. , Demir Yavuz
Published: February 2015

The effects of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) on glutathione reductase (glutathione: NADP+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.8.1.7; GR) activity of spinach leaves (Spinacia oleracea L. cv. Gladiator) were investigated under in vivo and in vitro conditions. Spinach was grown in sand culture under controlled conditions for 30 d. In in vivo assays 30-day-old plants were sprayed with polyamines once, and leaves were harvested 1, 5, 10 and 15 d after treatment. The three polyamines decreased the GR activity to different degrees, depending on time after application, type of compound and their concentration. In order to study whether or not polyamines can exert a direct effect on GR, the enzyme was partially purified from spinach leaves and incubated with polyamines in the reaction medium. Under these in vitro conditions, GR was inhibited by polyamines in a polyamine type- and concentrationdependent manner. Interestingly, spermine exerted the most intense inhibitory effect in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. It is proposed that the early decrease of glutathione reductase activity in leaves treated with polyamines can be due to a direct interaction of these compounds with the enzyme
Characterization of the Autographa californica Nucleopolyhedrovirus Ubiquitin Gene Promoter
Authors: Lin Xu Ai , Chen Yin , Xu Wei Hua , Yi Yong Zhu , Zhang Zhi Fang
Published: February 2015

Autographa californica multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) encodes an ubiquitin protein, which may be involved in virus infection. Functional analysis of the AcMNPV ubiquitin promoter was performed by progressive deletion of sequence or mutation of putative cis-activating motifs in the promoter region. In the presence of viral factors, a transient expression assay demonstrated that the active regions responsive to promoter transcription are mainly located within the range of -595 to -382 bp upstream of ATG. A 196-bp fragment (-383 to -187 bp), consisting of the distal TAAG, CAAT motif and TATA box, could also drive the expression of a reporter gene. Site-directed mutagenesis analyses indicated that mutations of TATA boxes and TAAG motifs reduce the promoter activity remarkably, while CAAT mutations enhance the promoter activity by about 3- or 4-fold as compared to the native promoter. All the results suggested that two continuous promoter regions are involved in the transcription of the ubiquitin gene and the cis-activating motifs corresponding to viral factors are mainly present within the 5′ region of the promoter. In addition, CAAT motifs in the promoter region function as negative regulator(s) binding sites
DNA Interstrand Crosslinks Repair in Mammalian Cells
Authors: Mladenova Veronika , Russev George
Published: February 2015

We studied the formation of double strand breaks (DSBs) as intermediates in the repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks (ICLs) by homologous recombination (HR). The plasmid EGFP-N1 was crosslinked with trioxsalen to give one ICL per plasmid on average. HeLa cells were transfected with the crosslinked plasmids and the ICL repair was monitored by following the restoration of the GFP expression. It was accompanied by γ-H2AX foci formation suggesting that DSBs were formed during the process. However, the same amount of γ-H2AX foci was observed when cells were transfected with native plasmid, which indicated that γ-H2AX foci appearance could not be used to determine the amount of DSBs connected with the ICL repair in this system. For this reason we further monitored the DSB formation by determining the amount of linearized plasmids, since having one crosslink per plasmid on average, any ICL-driven DSB formation would lead to plasmid linearization. Native and crosslinked plasmids were incubated in repair-competent cell-free extracts from G1 and S phase HeLa cells. Although a considerable part of the ICLs was repaired, no linearization of the plasmids was observed in the extracts, which was interpreted that DSBs were not formed as intermediates in the process of ICL repair. In another set of experiments HRproficient HeLa and HR-deficient irs3 cells were transfected with native and crosslinked plasmids, and 6 h and 12 h later the plasmid DNA was isolated and analyzed by electrophoresis. The same amount of linear plasmid molecules was observed in both cell lines, regardless of whether they were transfected with native or crosslinked pEGFP-N1, which further confirmed that DSB formation was not an obligatory step in the process of ICL repair by HR
Deferoxamine Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in PC12 Cells
Authors: Yoo Young-Bum , Lee Kyeong Ryong , Kim Seung-Whan , Kwon Kisang , Goo Tae-Won , Kwon O-Yu
Published: February 2015

Deferoxamine (DFA, N′-[5-(acetyl-hydroxy-amino)- pentyl]-N-[5-[3-(5-aminopentyl-hydroxy-carbamoyl) propanoylamino] pentyl]-N-hydroxy-butane diamide) is a chelating agent used to remove excess iron from the body and to reduce organ and tissue damage. DFA enhances both iron regulatory protein 1 (IRP1) expression and its endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-binding activity, as occurs in hypoxia, an ER stress, in cultured cells. Here, we show that DFA promotes ER stress via an ER signal pathway
Antimicrobial Activity of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters of Some Members of Chenopodiaceae
Authors: Chandrasekaran Manivachagam , Kannathasan Krishnan , Venkatesalu Venugopalan
Published: February 2015

Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) extracts of four halophytic plants, viz. Arthrocnemum indicum, Salicornia brachiata, Suaeda maritima and Suaeda monoica belonging to the family Chenopodiaceae, were prepared and their composition was analyzed by GC-MS. The FAME extracts were also screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of more saturated fatty acids than unsaturated fatty acids. Among the fatty acids analyzed, the relative percentage of lauric acid was high in S. brachiata (61.85%). The FAME extract of S. brachiata showed the highest antibacterial and antifungal activities among the extracts tested. The other three extracts showed potent antibacterial and moderate anticandidal activities.
Coumarin, Anthroquinone and Stilbene Derivatives with Anticholinesterase Activity
Authors: Orhan Ilkay , Tosun Fatma , Şener Bilge
Published: February 2015

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are the key enzymes in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by a deficit in central cholinergic transmission. In the current study, AChE and BChE inhibitory activities of seven coumarin derivatives [umbelliferone (1), 4-methylumbelliferone (2), 4-hydroxycoumarin (3), scopoletin (4), 8-methoxypsoralen (5), bergapten (6), and iso-bergapten (7)], a furanocoumarin mixture obtained from Heracleum crenatifolium Boiss. (Umbelliferae), as well as of two anthroquinone derivatives [rhein (8) and aloe-emodine (9)] and one stilbene, rhapontin (10), were tested by the spectrophotometric method of Ellman using an ELISA microplate-reader at 1 mg mL-1. Among them, the furanocoumarin mixture [(68.8 ± 0.76)%], bergapten [(62.4 ± 0.74)%], aloe-emodine [(57.2 ± 1.32)%], scopoletin [(53.1 ± 0.83)%], and 4-methylumbelliferone [(62.3 ± 1.03)%] showed over 50% inhibition against AchE, while umbelliferone [(54.3 ± 0.23)%], 4-methylumbelliferone [(80.9 ± 1.17)%], scopoletin [(73.5 ± 1.01)%], 8-methoxypsoralen [(67.1 ± 0.98)%], as well as the furanocoumarin mixture [(76.7 ± 0.95)%] had a notable anti-BChE effect.
Cycloaspeptide A and Pseurotin A from the Endophytic Fungus Penicillium janczewskii
Authors: Schmeda-Hirschmann Guillermo , Hormazabal Emilio , Rodriguez Jaime A. , Theoduloz Cristina
Published: February 2015

Penicillium janczewskiiK. M. Zalessky was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the phloem of the Chilean gymnosperm Prumnopitys andina. When grown in liquid yeast extractmalt extract-glucose broth, the fungus produced two main secondary metabolites. The compounds were for the first time isolated from this species and identified by spectroscopic methods as pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A. This is the first report on the production of cyclic peptides by endophytic fungi from Chilean gymnosperms. Pseurotin A and cycloaspeptide A presented low cytotoxicity towards human lung fibroblasts with IC50 ≥ 1000 μm. Pseurotin A showed a moderate effect against the phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and Pseudomonas syringae, with IC50 values of 220 and 112 μg ml-1, respectively.
In vitro Withanolide Production by Withania somnifera L. Cultures
Authors: Sabir Farzana , Sangwan Neelam S. , Chaurasiya Narayan D. , Misra Laxmi N. , Sangwan Rajender S.
Published: February 2015

In vitro multiple shoots, root, callus and cell suspension cultures of Withania somnifera exhibited the potentiality to produce pharmacologically active withanolides. Multiple shoots cultures exhibited an increase in withanolide A accumulation compared to shoots of the mother plant. In vitro generated root cultures as well as callus and suspension cultures also produced withanolides albeit at lower levels.
Anti-Herpes Effect of Hemocyanin Derived from the Mollusk Rapana thomasiana
Authors: Genova-Kalou Petia , Dundarova Daniela , Idakieva Krasimira , Mohmmed Asif , Dundarov Stefan , Argirova Radka
Published: February 2015

The cytotoxicity and the antivirus activity of native hemocyanin, RtH, derived from the Bulgarian marine mollusk Rapana thomasiana and its structural isoform, RtH2, against HSV replication was evaluated on three HSV strains - two wt strains, TM (HSV 1) and Bja (HSV 2), and one ACVR mutant with tk gene mutation, DD (HSV 2). The experiments were performed on continuous RD 64 cells and three HSV 1 and HSV 2 strains were used, two mutants sensitive to acyclovir and one resistant mutant.

Both compounds were found to be effective inhibitors of wt HSV replication. Both compounds did not exhibit any effect on the infectious virus yield on ACVR mutant. The most promising, active and selective, anti-HSV agent, especially to genital herpes virus, was found to be the functional unit of native hemocyanin - RtH2. RtH2 did not induce apoptosis/ necrosis 8 h after virus infection and the target of its action, was found to be the viral but not the host cell DNA.
Domain a′ of Bombyx mori Protein Disulfide Isomerase Has Chaperone Activity
Authors: Goo Tae Won , Yun Eun Young , Kim Sung Wan , Choi Kwang Ho , Kang Seok Woo , Shin Kee-Sun , Yu Kweon , Kwon O-Yu
Published: February 2015

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized multifunctional enzyme that can function as a disulfide oxidase, a reductase, an isomerase, and a chaperone. The domain organization of PDI is abb′xa′c, with two catalytic (CxxC) motifs and a KDEL ER retention motif. The members of the PDI family exhibit differences in tissue distribution, specificity, and intracellular localization. We previously identified and characterized the PDI of Bombyx mori (bPDI) as a thioredoxin-like protein that shares primary sequence homology with other PDIs. Here we compare the reactivation of inactivated rRNase and sRNase by bPDI and three bPDI mutants, and show that bPDI has mammalian PDI-like activity. On its own, the N-terminal a domain does not retain this activity, but the a′ domain does. This is the first report of chaperone activity only in the a′ domain, but not in the a domain.
Fluidity of Liposome Membranes Doped with Metalloporphyrins: An ESR Study
Authors: Man Dariusz , Słota Rudolf , Mele Giuseppe , Li Jun
Published: February 2015

Changes in membrane fluidity of porphyrin-doped liposomes have been investigated to assess the kinetics of the fluidization process. Metal complexes of tert-butylphenyl mesosubstituted porphyrin, containing ions of Mg, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu, were used as dopants. Liposomes were obtained by sonication of hen egg yolk lecithin (EYL). Electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) was applied using two spin probes, TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine- 1-oxyl) and 16-DOXYL-stearic acid [2-ethyl-2-(15-methoxy-15-oxopentadecyl)-4,4- dimethyl-3-oxazolidinyloxyl], localized at different sites within the membrane to determine the spectroscopic parameters: partition (F) and rotation correlation time (τ), related to the membrane’s fluidity. It was found, that porphyrins considerably fluidize the membranes, and the dynamics of this process depends on the kind of the compound used and the membrane’s area surveyed by the probes. The Cu complex proved to be the most effective one within the surface layer, whereas the Mn complex most strongly fluidized the deeper parts of the lipid double-layer. Variations in fluidity observed after the porphyrins had been introduced into the liposome were found to stabilize inside the double-layer and within the surface layer after ca. 25 and 50 h, most probably due to hydration of the hydrophilic part of the membrane.
Role of Single-Electron Oxidation Potential and Lipophilicity in the Antiplasmodial in vitro Activity of Polyphenols: Comparison to Mammalian Cells
Authors: Grellier Philippe , Nemeikaitė-Čėnienė Aušra , Šarlauskas Jonas , Čėnas Narimantas
Published: February 2015

In spite of extensive studies, the structure-activity relationships in the action of polyphenols against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are poorly understood so far. As the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of polyphenols shows a negative dependence on the potential of the phenoxyl radical/phenol redox couple (E2
7 ), due to the involvement of prooxidant events, and a positive dependence on the octanol/water distribution coefficient at pH 7.0 (log D), we examined the role of these parameters in their antiplasmodial in vitro activity. We found that the concentrations of hydroxybenzenes causing 50% inhibition of the growth of P. falciparum strain FcB1 (IC50) are described by the regression log IC50 (μm) = 0.36 + 1.81 E2
7 (V) - 0.10 log D [n = 11, r2 = 0.760, F(2.8) = 12.03]. The IC50 values of flavonoids (n = 5), comprising a separate less active series, did not depend on their E2
7 values, 0.33 V- 0.75 V. These findings were similar to the mammalian cell cytotoxicity data. However, the mammalian cell cytotoxicity of hydroxybenzenes showed more pronounced dependence on their E2
7 values [Δlog CL50 /ΔE2
7 = (6.9-5.1) V-1, where CL50 is the compound concentration for 50% cell survival] than on their antiplasmodial activity. Although it is unclear whether the prooxidant action is the main factor in the antiplasmodial action of polyphenols or not, our data showed that the ease of their oxidation (decrease in E2
7 ) may enhance their activity. On the other hand, the different sensitivity of the mammalian cell cytotoxicity and the antiplasmodial activity of the hydroxybenzenes to their E2
7 values implied that compounds with high oxidation potential may be used as relatively efficient antiplasmodial agents with low mammalian cell cytotoxicity.
Active Metabolites from Dunalia spinosa Resinous Exudates
Authors: Erazo Silvia , Rocco Giovanna , Zaldivar Mercedes , Delporte Carla , Backhouse Nadine , Castro Consuelo , Belmonte Eliana , Monache Franco delle , Garcıía Ruben
Published: February 2015

Dunalia spinosa, a plant used in folk medicine for toothaches, breathing problems and cleansing wounds, was found active as antimicrobial and antioxidant. A new (E)-aurone rutinoside (dunaurone) has been isolated from the aerial parts of the plant, and its structure was determined by spectroscopic means. Lupeol, ß-sitosterol, scopoletin, quercetin and withaferin A were also found. All the extracts exhibited strong antimicrobial activity while dunaurone showed only weak antimicrobial inhibition against Klebsiella pneumoniae; in addition it presented a significant free radical scavenging activity.
Activity of Essential Oils and Individual Components against Acetyland Butyrylcholinesterase
Authors: Orhan Ilkay , Kartal Murat , Kan Yüksel , Şener Bilge
Published: February 2015

We have tested acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities of nineteen essential oils obtained from cultivated plants, namely one from Anethum graveolens L. (organic fertilizer), two from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. collected at fullymature and flowering stages (organic fertilizer), two from Melissa officinalis L. (cultivated using organic and chemical fertilizers), two from Mentha piperita L. and M. spicata L. (organic fertilizer), two from Lavandula officinalis Chaix ex Villars (cultivated using organic and chemical fertilizers), two from Ocimum basilicum L. (green and purple-leaf varieties cultivated using only organic fertilizer), four from Origanum onites L., O. vulgare L., O. munitiflorum Hausskn., and O. majorana L. (cultivated using organic fertilizer), two from Salvia sclarea L. (organic and chemical fertilizers), one from S. officinalis L. (organic fertilizer), and one from Satureja cuneifolia Ten. (organic fertilizer) by a spectrophotometric method of Ellman using ELISA microplate-reader at 1 mg/ml concentration. In addition, a number of single components widely encountered in most of the essential oils [γ-terpinene, 4-allyl anisole, (-)-carvone, dihydrocarvone, (-)-phencone, cuminyl alcohol, cumol, 4-isopropyl benzaldehyde, trans-anethole, camphene, iso-borneol, (-)-borneol, l-bornyl acetate, 2- decanol, 2-heptanol, methyl-heptanol, farnesol, nerol, iso-pulegol, 1,8-cineole, citral, citronellal, citronellol, geraniol, linalool, α-pinene, β-pinene, piperitone, iso-menthone, menthofurane, linalyl oxide, linalyl ester, geranyl ester, carvacrol, thymol, menthol, vanilline, and eugenol] was also screened for the same activity in the same manner. Almost all of the essential oils showed a very high inhibitory activity (over 80%) against both enzymes, whereas the single components were not as active as the essential oils.
Quantification of mRNAs and Housekeeping Gene Selection for Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR Normalization in European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) during Abiotic and Biotic Stress
Authors: Olbrich Maren , Gerstner Elke , Welzl Gerhard , Fleischmann Frank , Oßwald Wolfgang , Bahnweg Günther , Ernst Dieter
Published: February 2015

Analyses of different plant stressors are often based on gene expression studies. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) is the most sensitive method for the detection of low abundance transcripts. However, a critical point to note is the selection of housekeeping genes as an internal control. Many so-called ‘housekeeping genes’ are often affected by different stress factors and may not be suitable for use as an internal reference. We tested six housekeeping genes of European beech by qRT-PCR using the Sybr Green PCR kit. Specific primers were designed for 18S rRNA, actin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH1, GAPDH2), α-tubulin, and ubiquitin-like protein. Beech saplings were treated with increased concentrations of either ozone or CO2. In parallel, the expression of these genes was analyzed upon pathogen infection with Phytophthora citricola. To test the applicability of these genes as internal controls under realistic outdoor conditions, sun and shade leaves of 60-year-old trees were used for comparison. The regulation of all genes was tested using a linear mixed-effect model of the R-system. Results from independent experiments showed that the only gene not affected by any treatment was actin. The expression of the other housekeeping genes varied more or less with the degree of stress applied. These results highlight the importance of undergoing an individual selection of internal control genes for different experimental conditions.
Optimization of Fluorophore-Assisted Carbohydrate Electrophoresis
Authors: Huang Gang L.
Published: February 2015

Fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE) is a simple and inexpensive method for separating saccharides. Oligosaccharides were tagged with the charged fluorophore 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6-trisulfonate (ANTS), and the reductive amination reactions were essentially complete after approximately 16 h under the given experimental conditions. Saccharide-ANTS adducts were then separated by electrophoresis on 32% CACR/2.4% CBIS polyacrylamide gel at alkaline pH. This technique doesn’t require sophisticated instrumentation and highly trained personnel.