bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GC/MS Analysis of Some Bioactive Constituents from Carthamus lanatus L.
Authors: Mitova Maya , Taskova Rilka , Popov Simeon , Berger Ralf Günter , Krings Ulrich , Handjieva Nedjalka
Published: February 2015

Sterols, triterpenes, volatiles, polar and other constituents in aerial parts of Carthamus lanatus were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Over 90 compounds were identified most of them new for the species. Sitosterol and stigmasterol were the most abundant of 10 sterols identified in the sterol fraction. Taraxasterol, α- and β-amyrine prevailed in the triterpene fraction. Volatiles, sterols and a fraction of the dichloromethane extract showed strong cytotoxicity (Artemia salina assay).
Influence of Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorous Sources on Glucoamylase Production by Aspergillus awamori in Solid State Fermentation
Authors: Bertolin Telma Elita , Schmidell Willibaldo , Maiorano Alfredo E. , Casara Janice , Costa Jorge A. V.
Published: February 2015

It was the objective of the present study to increase the production of glucoamylase by Aspergillus awamori through solid state fermentation, using wheat bran as the main carbon source and (NH4)2SO4, urea, KH2PO4, glucose, maltose and starch as additional nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon sources. The production of glucoamylase is strongly influenced by N and C sources. A 100% increase was observed when the (NH4)2SO4 was replaced by urea, with C/N = 4.8, using maltose as the additional carbon source. C/P ratios in a range of 5.1 to 28.7 did not induce glucoamylase production under the studied conditions.
Betacyanins and Phenolic Compounds from Amaranthus spinosus L. and Boerhavia erecta L.
Authors: Stintzing Florian C. , Kammerer Dietmar , Schieber Andreas , Adama Hilou , Nacoulma Odile G. , Carle Reinhold
Published: February 2015

Stem bark extracts of Boerhavia erecta L. (erect spiderling) and Amaranthus spinosus L. (spiny amaranth), two wild growing weed plants used in traditional African medicine, were characterized with respect to their phenolic profile including the betalains. While the main betalains in A. spinosus were identified as amaranthine and isoamaranthine, the major betacyanins in B. erecta were betanin, isobetanin together with neobetanin. The latter showed higher betalain concentrations amounting to 186 mg/100 g, while the former contained 24 mg betacyanins in 100 g of the ground plant material. Extracts of A. spinosus were found to contain hydroxycinnamates, quercetin and kaempferol glycosides, whereas catechins, procyanidins and quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin glycosides were detected in B. erecta. The amounts of these compounds ranged from 305 mg/100 g for A. spinosus to 329 mg/100 g for B. erecta.
Determination of Aucubin and Catalpol in Plantago Species by Micellar Electrokinetic Chromatography
Authors: Jurišić Renata , Debeljak Željko , Vladimir-Knežević Sanda , Vuković Jadranka
Published: February 2015

Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) was used for the separation and determination of two iridoid glycosides, aucubin and catalpol, in several Plantago species growing in Croatia: P. altissima L., P. argentea Chaix, P. coronopus L., P. holosteum Scop. (subsp. depauperata, subsp. holosteum and subsp. scopulorum), P. lagopus L., P. lanceolata L., and P. maritima L. Hot water extraction (HWE) was applied for the isolation of iridoid substances. Significant differences appeared between the iridoid contents in the examined species. The yield of aucubin and catalpol was up to 0.27% and 1.81% of the dry mass of the leaves, respectively. Besides aucubin and catalpol, two related compounds were determined in the plant samples.
Aromatic Components of the Leaves of the New Zealand Lemonwood Tree Pittosporum eugenioides
Authors: Weston Roderick J.
Published: February 2015

The major aromatic components of the essential leaf oil of the New Zealand lemonwood tree Pittosporum eugenioides are octyl acetate (33%), terpinen-4-ol (13%), decanol (6%) and (Z)-hex-3-enol (5%). These products are responsible for the characteristic Citrus-like aroma which is detected when the leaves are crushed, a phenomenon which provided the species with its common name. The major component of the oil, octyl acetate is also an abundant component of the essential oils of Heracleum and Boswellia species.
Influence of Temperature on Phytohormone Interactions with Monolayers Obtained from Phospholipids of Wheat Calli
Authors: Gzyl Barbara , Filek Maria , Dudek Anna
Published: February 2015

The effect of temperatures (15 and 5 °C) on adsorption parameters of phytohormones at monolayers prepared from a mixture of phospholipids extracted from non-embryogenic (NE) and embryogenic (E) winter wheat calli initiated from inflorescences (inf) and embryos (emb) was studied. The surface parameter values, i.e. limiting area and collapse pressure, were determined using the Langmuir method. Phytohormones 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin, zeatin and zearalenone were investigated. The phytohormones, at a concentration of 0.2 μg/ml dissolved in water, were injected into the subphase. Phospholipids, at the concentration of 2 mg/ml, were spread at the water surface and the monolayer was compressed. The anomalous temperature effect was observed, especially, in non-embryogenic systems. In monolayers obtained from E phospholipids, the temperature effect was dependent on the kind of tissue from which the callus was initiated. Among all the examined phytohormones, the greatest changes (monolayer expansion) were found for IAA and zearalenone. However, this activity depended strongly on the kind of tissue from which the phospholipid mixture was extracted.
Prolyl Endopeptidase Inhibitors from Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry
Authors: Amor Evangeline C. , Villaseñor Irene M. , Yasin Amsha , Choudhary M. Iqbal
Published: February 2015

Compounds isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves of Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L. M. Perry were tested for inhibitory activity against the following serine proteases: trypsin, thrombin and prolyl endopeptidase. The compounds were identified as an intractable mixture of α-carotene and β-carotene (1), lupeol (2), betulin (3), epi-betulinic acid (4), 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′-methylchalcone (5), 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxy-3′- methylchalcone (6), 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5v-dimethylchalcone (7), 2′,4′-dihydroxy- 6′-methoxy-3′-methyldihydrochalcone (8) and 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6,8-dimethylflavanone (9). Hydrogenation of compounds 5, 6 and 7 yielded compound 8, 2′-hydroxy-4′,6′-dimethoxy- 3′-methyldihydrochalcone (10) and 2′,4′-dihydroxy-6′-methoxy-3′,5-dimethyldihydrochalcone (11), respectively. The hydrogenated products of compounds 6 and 7 were also tested for enzyme inhibitory activity. In addition, β-sitosterol (12) and β-ᴅ-sitosterylglucoside (13) were also isolated. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 1-6, 8 and 13 from this plant. Compounds 3-8 and 10 exhibited significant and selective inhibition against prolyl endopeptidase among three serine proteases. This is the first report of this kind of activity for all these compounds.
In situ Assessment of Porphyrin Photosensitizers in Propionibacterium acnes
Authors: Ramberg Kristin , Melø Thor Bernt , Johnsson Anders
Published: February 2015

Porphyrins are known to be efficient photosensitizer molecules and the combined action of light and porphyrins in Propionibacterium acnes have a lethal action on the cells. Identification and quantification of in situ porphyrins in P. acnes have been done using an integrating sphere connected to an ordinary absorption spectrophotometer, and the amounts of porphyrins in the cells were quantified by measuring scattering free absorption spectra of the cell suspensions. The concentration of porphyrins in P. acnes cells were increased in either of two ways; by the addition of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which lead to the formation of coproporphyrin III under the incubation conditions used in these experiments, or by the addition of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) to the cell suspension. In the latter case, PPIX molecules are taken up by the cells in a membrane-mediated uptake mechanism, and accumulate in the cells either on a monomeric or a particular aggregate form. The fraction of porphyrins on aggregate form increased with increasing PPIX additions. In the case of ALA induced porphyrin production, only monomeric porphyrins were stored in the cells. In both cases, the cells have a limited binding capacity of monomeric porphyrins, which is estimated to be 3 × 105 molecules/cell, or one porphyrin molecule to every 100st lipid molecule in the cell membrane.
Chemical Defense of Mediterranean Sponges Aplysina cavernicola and Aplysina aerophoba
Authors: Thoms Carsten , Wolff Matthias , Padmakumar K. , Ebel Rainer , Proksch Peter
Published: February 2015

The Mediterranean sponges Aplysina aerophoba and A. cavernicola accumulate brominated isoxazoline alkaloids including aplysinamisin-1 (1), aerophobin-2 (2), isofistularin-3 (3) or aerothionin (4) at concentrations up to 10% of their respective dry weights. In laboratory feeding experiments employing the polyphagous Mediterranean fish Blennius sphinx crude extracts of both Aplysina sponges were incorporated into artificial fish food at their physiological concentrations (based on volume) and offered to B. sphinx in choice feeding experiments against untreated control food. In addition to the Aplysina sponges, extracts from nine other frequently occurring Mediterranean sponges were likewise included into the experiments. Both Aplysina species elicited strong feeding deterrence compared to the other sponges tested. Bioassay-guided fractionation of A. cavernicola yielded the isoxazoline alkaloids aerothionin (4) and aplysinamisin-1 (1) as well as the 3,4-dihydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (8) as major deterrent constituents when tested at their physiological concentrations as present in sponges. Aeroplysinin-1 (5) and dienone (6), however, which are formed in A. aerophoba and A. cavernicola from isoxazoline precursors through bioconversion reactions upon tissue injury showed no or only little deterrent activity. Fractionation of a crude extract of A. aerophoba yielded aerophobin-2 (2) and isofistularin-3 (3) as major deterrent constituents against B. sphinx. We propose that the isoxazoline alkaloids 1-4 of Mediterranean Aplysina sponges as well as the 3,4-dihydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid (8) (in the case of A. cavernicola) act as defensive metabolites against B. sphinx and possibly also against other predators while the antibiotically active bioconversion products aeroplysinin-1 (5) and dienone (6) may protect sponges from invasion of bacterial pathogens.
Decomposition of Aqueous Diphenyloxide by Ozonolysis and by Combined γ-Ray-Ozone Processing
Authors: Popov Petar , Getoff Nikola
Published: February 2015

Diphenyloxide (DPO) is one of many, rather toxic pollutants produced by combustion of fossil fuels, which are emitted to the atmosphere with flue gases and brought to ground water by rain and snow. Its decomposition is investigated by ozonolysis at room temperature and the major products like phenol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, dihydroxy-benzoic acid as well as the total yield of aldehydes and carboxylic acids were determined as a function of applied ozone concentration. In addition, the DPO-degradation was studied by a combined action of γ-ray under continuous bubbling of a known ozone concentration. In this case the formation of the same products is observed, but their yields differ from the above ones. Based on the synergistic action of ozone and γ-ray the DPO-radiolysis is rather efficient, leading to an initial-G-value of 11.3. Some probable reaction mechanisms are presented for explanation of the degradation process.
Flavonoids as Chemotaxonomic Markers for Erythroxylum australe
Authors: Johnson Emanuel L. , Schmidt Walter F.
Published: February 2015

Methanolic leaf extracts of Erythroxylum australe F. Muell. produced eight O-conjugated flavonoids. Six of the flavonoid aglycones were dihydroisoflavones (all dihydro-orobol derivatives), one a flavanone, eriodictyol, and one a flavonol, quercetin. The major glycosides of the flavonoids included mono-glucosyl-rhamnosyls and dirhamnosyl-glucosides with either 3,5,7 or 3′,4′ linkage or a combination thereof. The array of flavonoids present in E. australe suggests kinship to E. ulei and linkage to the four cultivated alkaloid-bearing Erythroxylum, especially the ancestral E. coca var. coca. Because of the uniqueness of the flavonoids present in leaf tissue of E. australe they are unambiguously useful as chemotaxonomic markers for the taxon.
DPPH Free Radical Scavenger Components from the Fruits of Alpinia rafflesiana Wall. ex. Bak. (Zingiberaceae)
Authors: Mohamad Habsah , Abas Faridah , Permana Dharma , Lajis Nordin H. , Ali Abdul Manaf , Sukari Mohd Aspollah , Hin Taufiq Y. Y. , Kikuzaki Hiroe , Nakatani Nobuji
Published: February 2015

The methanol extract of the dried ripe fruits of Alpinia rafflesiana was investigated for its DPPH free radical scavenger constituents. 2′,3′,4′,6′-Tetrahydroxychalcone (7), which has never been isolated from natural sources was found to be most active as a DPPH free radical scavenger with the IC50 value of 55 μᴍ. Other known compounds isolated from this species include 5,6-dehydrokawain (1), flavokawin B (2), 1,7-diphenyl-5-hydroxy-6-hepten-3-one (3), (-)-pinocembrin (4), cardamonin (5) and (-)-pinostrobin (6). The DPPH free radical scavenger compounds were detected using TLC autographic analysis. The percentage inhibition of DPPH free radical scavenging activity was measured on isolates (5-7) using colorimetric analysis.
pH-Dependent Quenching of the Fluorescence of Tryptophan Residues in Class A β-Lactamase from E. coli (TEM-1)
Authors: Christov Christo , Ianev Dimitar , Shosheva Alexandra , Atanasov Boris
Published: February 2015

We performed an investigation of the pH-dependent quenching of the fluorescence of tryptophan residues of TEM-1 β-lactamase from E. coli by uncharged and charged quenchers. pH-dependent Stern-Volmer constants (KSV/pH) of tryptophan residues allowed us to determine subtle but discrete structurally and functionally important processes.
Quantification and Fatty Acid Profiles of Sulfolipids in Two Halophytes and a Glycophyte Grown under Different Salt Concentrations
Authors: Ramani Balasubramanian , Zorn Holger , Papenbrock Jutta
Published: February 2015

This study was aimed at understanding the role of sulfolipids in salt tolerance mechanisms of the halophytes Aster tripolium L., Compositae, and Sesuvium portulacastrum L., Aizoaceae, and of the glycophyte Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh., Brassicaceae. In Aster and Sesuvium the sulfolipid contents increased significantly under salt stress conditions (517 mᴍ or 864 mᴍ). In Arabidopsis, changes in sulfolipid contents were not observed (NaCl up to 100 mᴍ). The fatty acid profile of sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) in Aster was modified with increasing NaCl concentrations. LC-MS analyses of sulfolipids from Aster and Sesuvium revealed the presence of 18:3/18:3 and 16:0/18:3 molecules. Obviously, the function of sulfolipids during salt stress differs between halophytic species and between halophytes and glycophytes where sulfolipid accumulation was not observed.
Induction of Tropane Alkaloid Formation in Transformed Root Cultures of Brugmansia suaveolens (Solanaceae)
Authors: Zayed Rawia , Wink Michael
Published: February 2015

Hairy root cultures of Brugmansia suaveolens were set up by infection of root tips with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. The successful transformation was confirmed by analysing rolC and virC genes using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Hairy root cultures were employed to study the formation of tropane alkaloids, such as hyoscyamine. The transformed cultures were incubated with potential elicitors, such as methyljasmonate, quercetin and salicylic acid in order to stimulate the biosynthesis of tropane alkaloids. Profile and amounts of tropane alkaloids were analysed using capillary GLC-MS. At least 18 different tropane alkaloids could be identified. Treatment of the cultures with 200 μᴍ methyljasmonate increased the alkaloid accumulation 25-fold up to a level of 1 mg/g fresh weight as compared to untreated controls. Quercetin enhanced the alkaloid production 10 fold (0.4 mg/g fresh weight) within 24 h. In contrast 100 μᴍ salicylic acid decreased alkaloids to a level of 1 μg/g fresh weight.
A 1.3 kb Satellite DNA from Bubalus bubalis not Conserved Evolutionarily is Transcribed
Authors: Bhatnagar Sunita , Bashamboo Anu , Chattopadhyay Munmun , Gangadharan Supriya , Ali Sher
Published: February 2015

A 1.3 kb satellite DNA from a size defined genomic library of mammal Bubalus bubalis was cloned and sequenced. The clone pSB1 is AT rich with 447 A (33.6%), 262 C (19.7%), 240 G (19.0%) and 383 T (28.8%). There were about 1400 copies of contig in the bubaline genome but it did not uncover allele length variation when used as probe in conjunction with a number of restriction enzymes. The contig pSB1 is not conserved evolutionarily and cross hybridizes only with the Bovideae family. A set of primers from 5′ (nt 422 to 441) and 3′ (nt 962 to 947) deduced from the clone used for PCR amplification with four members of the Bovideae family gave the expected 530 bp band of equal intensity indicating a similar number of copies in all the four species namely Bos indicus, Capra hircus, Ovis aries and Bubalus bubalis. Expression studies with pSB1 following slot-blot hybridization with total RNA isolated from ovary, testes, kidney, lung and spleen revealed varying signal intensities in all the tissues with a most prominent signal in spleen but a faint one in ovary. Further sequence analysis revealed the presence of several eukaryotic transcriptional elements such as NF-E1, Poly-A signal, lariat consensus sequences, and CTF/NF1 binding sites. Blast search showed 90% sequence similarity with the reverse transcriptase gene of Bos taurus and sequences from nt 283 to 636 within the contig showed highly conserved reverse transcriptase like signatures along with N-glycosylation and protein kinase C phosphorylation sites. From the data we conclude that the pSB1 representing satellite DNA is associated with transcribing sequences. The prospect of identifying functional genes linked with the satellite fraction in higher vertebrates is discussed.
Thiol-reactive Clenbuterol Analogues Conjugated to Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Oblak Marko , Preželj Andrej , Pečar Slavko , Solmajer Tom
Published: February 2015

Several novel thiol-reactive clenbuterol analogues were coupled in high yield with bovine serum albumin (BSA). After labelling of unreacted cysteines with maleimide spin label (MiSL), the yield of the coupling reaction was determined by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and spectral analysis. Two spin-probe populations with different mobility states were quantitatively determined. Molecular dynamics was used to model the structure of clenbuterol analogues and spin label conjugated to BSA and recognition of conjugates by anti-clenbuterol antibodies was demonstrated. The recognition of BSA-A, BSA-C and BSAS conjugates with monoclonal and polyclonal anti-clenbuterol (mCLB-Ab and rCLB-Ab) antibodies was an indication, that chlorine substituents on the aromatic ring of clenbuterol derivatives are not necessary for the binding of antibodies to the conjugates. These results confirmed the importance of the tert-butylamino group as a part of the epitope and contribute to the understanding of the recognition process with anti-clenbuterol antibodies.
An Improved Micromethod for Tyrosine Estimation
Authors: Acharya Munjal M. , Katyare Surendra S.
Published: February 2015

A modified and improved micromethod for tyrosine determination has been developed. The method is sensitive, economic and applicable for estimation of tyrosine released in enzymatic reactions and in tissue. A range of Folin-Ciocalteu (FC) reagent was used to optimize the conditions for the development of blue color. Thus in 1.5 ml of the assay system, the suitably diluted FC reagent at the final concentration of 0.2ɴ gave a rapid optimum color development with an absorption maximum at 750 nm. Color development showed a linear relationship in the range of 2 to 16 μg tyrosine for a described assay system under optimized conditions. Thus, the method is 3-fold more sensitive in terms of its estimation range than a conventional method. The blue color formed was stable up to 24 h. The applicability of the method for tyrosine determination in the assay of lysosomal cathepsin D and in tissue was checked by comparison to the conventional procedure. Under both systems the results obtained by the micromethod were identical to those obtained by the conventional method. In general the method that produces quantitatively a blue color, not only is rapid and economical in terms of chemical usage but also has application for routine biochemical analysis.
Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Two Alpinia Species from Hainan Island, China
Authors: Nan Peng , Hu Yaoming , Zhao Jiayuan , Feng Ying , Zhong Yang
Published: February 2015

The essential oils of two Alpinia species, i.e. A. hainanensis and A. katsumadai, from Hainan Island, China were analyzed by using GC-MS. The major constituents in the leaf oil of A. hainanensis were ocimene (27.4%), β-pinene (10.1%), 9-octadecenoic acid (6.5%), n-hexadecanoic acid (5.8%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (5.4%), and terpinen (4.3%). The oil constituents obtained from the flowers of A. hainanensis were ocimene (39.8%), β-pinene (17.7%), terpinene (5.5%), p-menth-1-en-ol (4.9%), caryophyllene (4.9%), and phellandrene (4.4%). In A. katsumadai, the major constituents in the leaf oil were p-menth-1-en-ol (22.0%), terpinen (19.0%), 4-carene (9.1%), 1,8-cineole (8.3%), and camphor (5.6%). The major constituents in the flower oil were p-menth-1-en-ol (21.3%), 1,8-cineole (20.2%), terpinen (12.6%), phellandrene (7.0%), 4-carene (6.4%), and β-pinene (5.2%).
Terpenoids from Anthemis austriaca Jacq.
Authors: Stanevaa Jordanka , Trendafilova-Savkova Antoaneta , Todorova Milka N. , Evstatieva Ljuba , Vitkova Antonina
Published: February 2015

The aerial parts of Anthemis austriaca Jacq. afforded five new sesquiterpene lactones (two of which are dimeric guaianolides) and three new guaiane type sesquiterpene acids. In addition, seven known terpenoids were also found in the studied species. Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods.
Thymus fontanesii Boiss. & Reut. - A Potential Source of Thymol-Rich Essential Oil in North Africa
Authors: Ghannadi Alireza , Sajjadi Seyed Ebrahim , Kabouche Ahmed
Published: February 2015

The waterdistilled essential oil from dried aerial parts of one of the Algerian thymes, Thymus fontanesii Boiss. & Reut. grown in Setif province, Algeria, was analyzed by GC/MS. Fifteen components were characterized representing 99.4% of the total components detected. The major components of the oil were thymol (67.8%), γ-terpinene (15.9%) and p-cymene (13.0%).
Biotransformation of Isoprenoids and Shikimic Acid Derivatives by a Vegetable Enzymatic System
Authors: Mączka Wanda Krystyna , Mironowicz Agnieszka
Published: February 2015

In biotransformations carried out under similar conditions enzymatic systems from carrot (Daucus carota L.), celeriac (Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum) and horse-radish (Armoracia lapathifolia Gilib.) hydrolyzed the ester bonds of acetates of phenols or alicyclic alcohols. Nevertheless, methyl esters of aromatic acids did not undergo hydrolysis. Alcohols were oxidized to ketones in a reversible reaction.
Biotransformation of 3α,4α-Dihydroxy-dihydro-β-agarofuran by Rhizopus nigricans
Authors: Alarcón Julio , Águila Sergio
Published: February 2015

3α,4α-Dihydroxy-dihydro-β-agarofuran (1), prepared from (+)-dihydrocarvone by a traditional synthetic method, the Robinson annelation, was biotransformed by R. nigricans to afford a new metabolite characterized as 1α,3α,4α-trihydroxy-dihydro-β-agarofuran (2) by spectroscopic method. An acetylated derivative was prepared.
4-Hydroxykigelin and 6-Demethylkigelin, Root Growth Promoters, Produced by Aspergillus terreus
Authors: Shimada Atsumi , Inokuchi Tomohisa , Kusano Miyako , Takeuchi Sumiyo , Inoue Ryou , Tanita Michimasa , Fujioka Shozo
Published: February 2015

Root growth promoters, 4-hydroxykigelin (1) and 6-demethylkigelin (2), together with 6- hydroxymellein (3) were isolated from cultures of the fungus Aspergillus terreus and their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. The biological activities of the three dihydroisocoumarins, 1, 2, and 3, have been examined using a bioassay method with lettuce seedlings. Furthermore, interactions between the dihydroisocoumarins and indole-3-acetic acid against the root growth have been examined.
Stress Causes Tissue-Specific Changes in the Sialyltransferase Activity
Authors: Dabelić Sanja , Flögel Mirna , Maravić Gordana , Lauc Gordan
Published: February 2015

Numerous pathological conditions are associated with specific changes in glycosylation. Recent studies clearly demonstrated a link between stress and the development and course of many diseases. Biochemical mechanisms that link stress and diseases are still not fully understood, but there are some indications that changes in glycosylation are involved in this process.

Influence of acute and chronic psychological stress on protein sialylation as well as the activity of sialyltransferases, enzymes that synthesize sialoglycoproteins, has been studied on Fischer rats. Liver, spleen, kidney, skeletal muscle, heart, adrenal gland, serum, cerebellum, hippocampus, medulla oblongata and cortex have been analyzed. Statistically significant tissue- and type of stress-specific changes in total sialyltransferase (ST) activity were observed. Acute stress resulted in 39% increase of ST activity in liver and spleen, while at the same time there was 43% decrease in ST activity in cerebellum. In chronic stress, ST activity increased in spleen (93%) and decreased in liver (17%), cerebellum (38%) and hippocampus (64%). Western-blot analysis using Maackia amurensis and Sambucus nigra lectins did not reveal any difference in protein sialylation. The results of serum corticosterone analysis indicate that showed increase in acute stress and decrease in chronic stress are in good accordance with the hypothesis that corticosterone has a role in the regulation of liver ST activity.
Contribution of Disulfide Bonds and Calcium to Molluscan Hemocyanin Stability
Authors: Georgieva Dessislava N. , Genov Nicolay , Perbandt Markus , Voelter Wolfgang , Betzel Christian
Published: February 2015

Disulfide bonds and calcium ions contribute significantly to the stability of the hemocyanin from the mollusc Rapana thomasiana grosse (gastropod). An extremely powerful protective effect of Ca2+ at a concentration of 100 mᴍ (100% protection) against the destructive effect of reductants like dithiothreitol was observed. This is important for the practical application of molluscan hemocyanins in experimental biochemistry, immunology and medicine. The reduction of the disulfide bonds in the Rapana hemocyanin leads to a 20% decrease of the α-helical structure. The S-S bonds contribute significantly to the free energy of stabilization in water increasing ⊿GD H2O by 6.9 kJ mol-1. The data are related to the X-ray model of the Rapana hemocyanin functional unit RtH2e. The results of this study can be of common validity for related respiratory proteins because the cysteine residues are conserved in all sequences of molluscan hemocyanins published so far.
Occurrence of Conjugated Polyenoic Fatty Acids in Seaweeds from the Indian Ocean
Authors: Bhaskar Narayan , Kinami Tomohisa , Miyashita Kazuo , Park Si-Bum , Endo Yasushi , Fujimoto Kenshiro
Published: February 2015

Three species of red marine macro algae (Rhodophyta) from the Indian Ocean were analysed for the occurrence of conjugated polyenes. The composition of different lipid classes in these seaweeds along with their fatty acid composition has also been reported. Analysis of lipid classes of these seaweeds revealed that both Acanthophora spicifera (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta) and two species of Gracilaria, viz. G. edulis and G. folifera (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) were rich in glycolipids followed by neutral- and phospholipids. The fatty acid composition of these seaweeds revealed C16:0 as the predominant fatty acid in all three species. However, A. spicifera had significantly higher amounts of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (AA) as compared to negligible amount of these fatty acids in both species of Gracilaria. The red seaweed Acanthophora spicifera contained conjugated eicosapentaenoic acid (CEPA) and conjugated arachidonic acid (CAA) in all lipid classes except glycolipids.
Xanthones from Polygala alpestris (Rchb.)
Authors: Dall’Acquaa Stefano , Viola Giampietro , Cappelletti Elsa Mariella , Innocenti Gabbriella
Published: February 2015

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of Polygala alpestris L. (Rchb.) extracts led to the identification of two new xanthones, 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2,6-dimethoxyxanthone (1) and 2,3-methylenedioxy-4,7-dihydroxyxanthone (2). In addition five known compounds 3,4-dimethoxy-1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (3), 1,3-dihydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone (4), 1,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethoxyxanthone (5), 3′,6-O-disinapoyl sucrose (6) and 3′,5′-dimethoxybiphenyl-4-olo (7) were isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds were established by means of high resolution mass spectrometry, mono- and bi-dimensional NMR spectroscopy. All isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxic activity against three tumor cell lines (LoVo, HL-60, K 562).
Chemical Composition and in vitro Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils of Two Helichrysum Species from Tanzania
Authors: Bougatsos Christos , Ngassapa Olipa , Runyoro Deborah K. B. , Chinou Ioanna B.
Published: February 2015

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of Helichrysum cymosum and H. fulgidum, from Tanzania, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total of sixty-five compounds, representing 92.4% and 88.2% of the two oils, respectively, were identified. trans-Caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, β-pinene, p-cymene, spathulenol and β- bourbonene were found to be the main components. Furthermore, the oils were tested against six gram (±) bacteria and three pathogenic fungi. It was found that the oil of H. fulgidum exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, while the oil of H. cymosum was not active at all.
Enzymatic Redox Properties of Novel Nitrotriazole Explosives Implications for their Toxicity
Authors: Šarlauskas Jonas , Nemeikaitė-Cėnienė Aušra , Anusevičius Žilvinas , Misevičienė Lina , Marozienė Audronė , Markevicius Arvydas , Čėnas Narimantas
Published: February 2015

The toxicity of conventional nitroaromatic explosives like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is caused by their enzymatic free radical formation with the subsequent oxidative stress, the formation of alkylating nitroso and/or hydroxylamino metabolites, and oxyhemoglobin oxida­tion into methemoglobin. In order to get an insight into the mechanisms of toxicity of the novel explosives NTO (5-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-3-one) and ANTA (5-nitro-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine), we examined their reactions with the single-electron transferring flavoenzymes NADPH: cytochrome P-450 reductase and ferredoxin:NADP+ reductase, two-electron transferring fla­voenzymes mammalian NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (DT-diaphorase), and Enterobacter cloacae NAD(P)H:nitroreductase, and their reactions with oxyhemoglobin. The reac­tivity of NTO and ANTA in the above reactions was markedly lower than that of TNT. The toxicity of NTO and ANTA in bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK) was partly prevented by desferrioxamine and the antioxidant N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine, and potentiated by 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. This points to the involvement of oxidative stress in their cytotoxicity, presumably to the redox cycling of free radicals. The FLK cell line cytotoxicity and the methemoglobin formation in isolated human erythrocytes of NTO and ANTA were also markedly lower than those of TNT, and similar to those of nitrobenzene. Taken together, our data demonstrate that the low toxicity of nitrotriazole explosives may be attributed to their low electron-accepting properties.
Insecticidal Compounds from Tripterygium wilfordii Active against Mythimna separata
Authors: Luo Du-Qiang , Zhang Xing , Tian Xuan , Liu Ji-Kai
Published: February 2015

In the course of our investigations of new sources of higher plant lipids, seed fatty acid compositions and the tocochromanol contents of Salvia bracteata, S. euphratica var. euphratica, S. aucherii var. canascens, S. cryptantha, S. staminea, S. limbata, S. virgata, S. hypargeia, S. halophylla, S. syriaca and S. cilicica were investigated using GLC and HPLC systems. Some of the species are endemic to Turkey. All the Salvia sp. showed the same pattern of fatty acids. Linoleic, linolenic and oleic acid were found as the abundant components. Tocochromanol derivatives of the seed oil showed differences between Salvia species. γ-Tocopherol was the abundant component in most of the seed oils except of S. cilicica. The total tocopherol contents of the seed oils were determined to be more than the total of tocotrienols.
Metabolic Modifications of Birch Leaf Phenolics by an Herbivorous Insect: Detoxification of Flavonoid Aglycones via Glycosylation
Authors: Salminen Juha-Pekka , Lahtinen Maria , Lempa Kyösti , Kapari Lauri , Haukioja Erkki , Pihlaja Kalevi
Published: February 2015

The metabolic modifications of birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) leaf phenolics in the digestive tract of its major defoliator, larvae of the autumnal moth Epirrita autumnata, were studied. The main phenolic acids of birch, i.e. chlorogenic and p-coumaroylquinic acids, were isomerised in the alkaline digestive tract. Moreover, only 16 to 92% of the ingested amounts of chlorogenic acid were found in the faeces of individual larvae; the missing portion is possibly being used in the formation of reactive o-quinones. Water-soluble flavonoid glycosides were mostly excreted unaltered. In contrast, lipophilic flavonoid aglycones were not excreted as such, but as glycosides after being detoxified by E. autumnata via glycosylation. When the larvae were fed with leaf-painted acacetin and kaempferide, i.e. two naturally occurring birch leaf flavonoid aglycones, acacetin-7-O-glucoside and kaempferide-3-O-glucoside appeared in larval faeces as major metabolites. However, the efficiency of aglycone glycosylation varied, ranging from 17 to 33%, depending on the aglycone and its dietary level. There was also large variation in the efficiency of glycosylation − from 2 to 57% − among individual larvae. These results demonstrate a compound-specific metabolism of phenolic compounds, leading to different phenolic profiles in the insect gut compared to its leaf diet.
Comparison of the Global Genomic and Transcription-Coupled Repair Rates of Different Lesions in Human Cells
Authors: Atanassov Boyko , Velkova Aneliya , Mladenov Emil , Anachkova Boyka , Russev George
Published: February 2015

There are two subclasses of nucleotide excision repair (NER). One is the global genomic repair (GGR) which removes lesions throughout the genome regardless of whether any specific sequence is transcribed or not. The other is the transcription-coupled repair (TCR), which removes lesions only from the transcribed DNA sequences. There are data that GGR rates depend on the chemical nature of the lesions in a manner that the lesions inflicting larger distortion on the DNA double helix are repaired at higher rate. It is not known whether the TCR repair rates depend on the type of lesions and in what way. To address this question human cells were transfected with pEGFP and pEYFP plasmids treated with UV light, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) and angelicin and 24 h later the restored fluorescence was measured and used to calculate the respective NER rates. In a parallel series of experiments the same plasmids were incubated in repair-competent protein extracts to determine GGR rates in the absence of transcription. From the two sets of data, the TCR rates were calculated. We found out that cisplatin, UV light and angelicin lesions were repaired by GGR with different efficiency, which corresponded to the degree of DNA helix distortion induced by these agents. On the other hand the three lesions were repaired by TCR at very similar rates which showed that TCR efficiency was not directly connected with the chemical nature of the lesions.
Do Older Taxa Have Older Proteins?
Authors: Ferreira Ricardo , Pontes Frederico J. S. , de Barros Neto Benı´cio , Farias Patrı´cia M. A.
Published: February 2015

We have confirmed through an enlarged set of 728 species with 10,000 or more compiled codons, and a subset of 237 species with at least 50,000 compiled codons, that the mean values of a previously described index Φ [the mean value of the ratio between the relative (G, C) content of Class II and Class I codons, where G and C are guanine and cytosine] decrease monotonically across five large taxa, viz archaea, bacteria, eukaryotes (excluding metazoa), metazoa (excluding vertebrates) and vertebrates. It is proposed that these main taxa diverge successively from an ancestral progenome along lines which have persisted over long periods of time, leading to a primordial non-symmetrical phylogenetic tree. Further divergence, i.e. from eukaryotes to plants, fungi and protozoans, has followed symmetrical branching with approximately equal numbers of replacements and fixations. A statistical analysis of the Φ values of twelve distinct proteins, distributed over more than one thousand species belonging to the five main groups, was made to verify whether older taxa have older proteins. This supposition was confirmed for the first four taxa, but it was inconclusive for the last pair, metazoa/vertebrates.
Antioxidant Activities of Three Dihydrochalcone Glucosides from Leaves of Lithocarpus pachyphyllus
Authors: Yang Wei-Min , Liu Ji-Kai , Qin Xiang-Dong , Wu Wan-Lin , Chen Zhi-He
Published: February 2015

In vitro antioxidant activities of three sweet dihydrochalcone glucosides from the leaves of Lithocarpus pachyphyllus (Kurz) Rehd. (Fagaceae), trilobatin 2″-acetate (1), phloridzin (2) and trilobatin (3), were investigated. The IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration) values for compounds 1-3 of lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate were 261, 28, 88 μm, respectively. Compounds 1-3 increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity with EC50 (50% effective concentration) values of 575, 167, 128 μm, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity with EC50 values of 717, 347, 129 μm, respectively, and showed only weak DPPH (1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity
Antiproliferative Effect of Angelica archangelica Fruits
Authors: Sigurdsson Steinthor , Ögmundsdottir Helga M. , Gudbjarnason Sigmundur
Published: February 2015

The aim of this work was to study the antiproliferative effect of a tincture from fruits of Angelica archangelica and the active components using the human pancreas cancer cell line PANC-1 as a model. Significant dose-dependent antiproliferative activity was observed in the tincture with an EC50 value of 28.6 μg/ml. Strong antiproliferative activity resulted from the two most abundant furanocoumarins in the tincture, imperatorin and xanthotoxin. The contribution of terpenes to this activity was insignificant. Imperatorin and xanthotoxin proved to be highly antiproliferative, with EC50 values of 2.7 μg/ml and 3.7 μg/ml, respectively, equivalent to 10 and 17 μm. The results indicate that furanocoumarins account for most of the antiproliferative activity of the tincture.
Proteins with Spectrin Motifs Which Do Not Belong to the Spectrin-α-Actinin- Dystrophin Family
Authors: Kukuła Maciej , Hanus-Lorenz Beata , Bok Ewa , Leluk Jacek , Sikorski Aleksander F.
Published: February 2015

Using several consensus sequences for the 106 amino acid residue α-spectrin repeat segment as probes we searched animal sequence databases using the BLAST program in order to find proteins revealing limited, but significant similarity to spectrin. Among many spectrins and proteins from the spectrin-α-actinin-dystrophin family as well as sequences showing a rather high degree of similarity in very short stretches, we found seven homologous animal sequences of low overall similarity to spectrin but showing the presence of one or more spectrin-repeat motifs. The homology relationship of these sequences to α-spectrin was further analysed using the SEMIHOM program. Depending on the probe, these segments showed the presence of 6 to 26 identical amino acid residues and a variable number of semihomologous residues. Moreover, we found six protein sequences, which contained a sequence fragment sharing the SH3 (sarc homology region 3) domain homology of 42-59% similarity. Our data indicate the occurrence of motifs of significant homology to α-spectrin repeat segments among animal proteins, which are not classical members of the spectrin-α- actinin-dystrophin family. This might indicate that these segments together with the SH3 domain motif are conserved in proteins which possibly at the early stage of evolution were close cognates of spectrin-α-actinin-dystrophin progenitors but then evolved separately.
Exocrine Gland Secretions of Virgin Queens of Five Bumblebee Species (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombini)
Authors: Cahlíková Lucie , Hovorka Oldřich , Ptáček Vladimír , Valterová Irena
Published: February 2015

Secretions of three different glands (mandibular gland, labial gland, and Dufour’s gland) of virgin queens of five bumblebee species (Bombus lucorum, B. lapidarius, B. hypnorum, B. pascuorum, and B. terrestris) were analysed. Around 200 compounds were identified in the secretions. The compositions of the secretions of labial and mandibular glands were speciesspecific. Dufour’s gland of all species produced mainly hydrocarbons, both saturated and unsaturated, the proportions of which differed quantitatively between the species studied
The Pyoverdins of Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas cichorii
Authors: Bultreys Alain , Gheysen Isabelle , Schäfer Mathias , Budzikiewicz Herbert , Wathelet Bernard
Published: February 2015

The structure elucidation of the cyclic (lactonic) forms of the pyoverdins with a succinamide side chain originally produced by the closely related species Pseudomonas syringae and P. cichorii is reported. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analyses as well as the determination of the configuration of the amino acids after degradation indicate that these two pyoverdins differ only by the replacement of the first in-chain serine by glycine. The pyoverdins of P. syringae and P. cichorii and the dihydropyoverdin of P. syringae can be used by both species as siderophores.
Cuticular Wax Profiles of Leaves of Some Traditionally Used African Bignoniaceae
Authors: Gormann Rainer , Schreiber Lukas , Kolodziej Herbert
Published: February 2015

The cuticular waxes, obtained by chloroform extraction from the leaves of four African Bignoniaceae, Newbouldia laevis, Markhamia acuminata, Spathodea campanulata and Kigelia africana were analysed by GC-MS. The principal constituents were represented by a homologous series of n-alkanes (C23-C33), n-alcohols (C18-C30) and related carboxylic acids (C16-C36). For N. laevis and M. acuminata, ursolic and oleanolic acid were the most abundant wax components (52 and 60%, respectively), followed by the C29, the C31 and the C33 n-alkanes. The predominant components of S. campanulata were n-alcohols (35%), with octacosanol and triacontanol as the most abundant ones, while K. africana is distinguished from these three members by the conspicuous absence of triterpenoic acids and the predominance of n-alkanes (70%) with hentriacontane and tritriacontane as the main representatives. Other notable constituents were sterols, albeit present in trace amounts. The wax profiles are discussed in terms of taxonomic characters.
Rapid Determination of Volatile Compounds Emitted from Chimonanthus praecox Flowers by HS-SPME-GC-MS
Authors: Deng Chunhui , Song Guoxin , Hu Yaoming
Published: February 2015

A novel rapid, simple and solvent-free method was developed for determination of the volatile compounds from the flowers of Chimonanthus praecox Link using headspace solidphase microextraction (HS-SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The SPME conditions were firstly optimized and applied to sampling of the volatile compounds emitted from living Chimonanthus praecox L. flowers and excised Chimonanthus praecox L. flowers. Thirty-one compounds emitted from living flowers were identified for the first time, which mainly included 4-methyl-1,3-pentadiene (2.0%), α-phellandrene (4.7%), benzyl methanol (11.1%), trans-linalool oxide (furanyl ring) (5.3%), α-linalool (36.0%), methyl salicylate (24.5%) and acetic acid benzyl ester (5.9%). Comparing the emission from living flowers and excised flowers, twenty-eight compounds were found to be detected in the two emissions, and three compounds, n-pentadecane, n-cetane and n-heptadecane, were only found in the emission from the living flowers, which shows that they might be biomarker compounds.
Antimicrobial Activity of Fractions and Compounds from Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae)
Authors: Pretto Juliana B. , Cechinel-Filho Valdir , Noldin Vânia F. , Sartori Mara R. K. , Isaias Daniela E. B , Bella Cruz Alexandre
Published: February 2015

Calophyllum brasiliense (Clusiaceae/Guttiferae) is a native Brazilian medicinal plant traditionally used against several diseases, including infectious pathologies. Crude methanolic extracts (CME) and two fractions, denoted non-polar (soluble in chloroform) and polar (nonsoluble in chloroform), were prepared from different parts of the plant (roots, stems, leaves, flowers and fruits) and studied. The following compounds were isolated and tested against pathogenic bacteria and yeasts by determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC): brasiliensic acid (1), gallic acid (2), epicatechin (3), protocatechuic acid (4), friedelin (5) and 1,5-dihydroxyxanthone (6). The results indicated that all the parts of the plant exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, which are selectively inhibited by components of C. brasiliense. No activity was observed against Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts tested. Regarding the isolated compounds, substance 4 showed antimicrobial activity against all the tested microorganisms, whereas compound 6 exhibited antimicrobial activity only against Gram-positive bacteria. The results from the current study confirm and justify the popular use of this plant to treat infectious processes.
Synthesis and Field Tests of Sex Pheromone Components of the Leafroller Argyrotaenia sphaleropa
Authors: Legrand Sacha , Botton Marco , Witzgall Peter , Unelius Rikard
Published: February 2015

Female pheromone glands of the leafroller Argyrotaenia sphaleropa were analyzed. Two acetates were identified as (11Z,13)-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate and (11Z)-tetradecen-1-yl acetate by comparison with synthesized references. The (11Z,13)-tetradecadien-1-yl acetate and the aldehyde (11Z,13)-tetradecadienal were synthesized via a Wittig reaction. A field-trapping test showed that a lure consisting of a mixture of (11Z,13)-tetradecadienal and (11Z,13)- tetradecadien-1-yl acetate in a 10:1-ratio produced the highest trap catches.