bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition of the Fixed and Volatile Oils of Nigella sativa L. from Iran
Authors: Nickavar Bahman , Mojab Faraz , Javidnia Katayoun , Amoli Mohammad Ali Roodgar 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The chemical composition of the extracted fixed oil (total fatty acid composition) and volatile oil of Nigella sativa L. seeds grown in Iran were determined by GC and GC/MS. Eight fatty acids (99.5%) and thirty- two compounds (86.7%) have been identified in the fixed and volatile oils, respectively. The main fatty acids of the fixed oil were linoleic acid (55.6%), oleic acid (23.4%), and palmitic acid (12.5%). The major compounds of the volatile oil were trans-anethole (38.3%), p-cymene (14.8%), limonene (4.3%), and carvone (4.0%).
Tyrosinase Inhibition Kinetics of Anisic Acid
Authors: Kubo Isao , Chen Qing-Xi , Nihei Ken-Ichi , Calderón José S. , Céspedes Carlos L. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Anisic acid (p-methoxybenzoic acid) was characterized as a tyrosinase inhibitor from aniseed, a common food spice. It inhibited the oxidation of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (ʟ- DOPA) catalyzed by tyrosinase with an IC50 of 0.60 mᴍ. The inhibition of tyrosinase by anisic acid is a reversible reaction with residual enzyme activity. This phenolic acid was found to be a classical noncompetitive inhibitor and the inhibition constant KI was obtained as 0.603 mᴍ. Anisic acid also inhibited the hydroxylation of ʟ-tyrosine catalyzed by tyrosinase. The lag phase caused by the monophenolase activity was lengthened and the steady-state activity of the enzyme was decreased by anisic acid.
Elucidation of Endemic Neurodegenerative Diseases - a Commentary
Authors: Nishida Yuzo 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Recent investigations of scrapie, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), and chronic wasting disease (CWD) clusters in Iceland, Slovakia and Colorado, respectively, have indicated that the soil in these regions is low in copper and higher in manganese, and it has been well-known that patients of ALS or Parkinson’s disease were collectively found in the New Guinea and Papua islands, where the subterranean water (drinking water) contains much Al3+ and Mn2+ ions. Above facts suggest that these neurodegenerative diseases are closely related with the function of a metal ion.
We have investigated the chemical functions of the metal ions in detail and established the unique mechanism of the oxygen activation by the transition metal ions such as iron and copper, and pointed out the notable difference in the mechanism among iron, aluminum and manganese ions. Based on these results, it has become apparent that the incorporation of Al(III) or Mn(II) in the cells induces the “iron-overload syndrome”, which is mainly due to the difference in an oxygen activation mechanism between the iron ion and Al(III) or the Mn(II) ion. This syndrome highly promotes formation of hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide thus produced can be a main factor to cause serious damages to DNA and proteins (oxidative stress), yielding a copper(II)-or manganese(II)-peptide complex and its peroxide adduct, which are the serious agents to induce the structural changes from the normal prion protein (PrPC) to abnormal disease-causing isoforms, PrPSc, or the formation of PrP 27Ð30 (abnormal cleavage at site 90 of the prion protein).
It seems reasonable to consider that the essential origin for the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) should be the incorporation and accumulation of Al(III) and Mn(II) ions in the cells, and the sudden and explosive increase of scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in the last decade may be partially due to “acid rain”, because the acid rain makes Al(III) and Mn(II) ions soluble in the subterranean aquifers.
A New Sweet Dihydrochalcone-Glucoside from Leaves of Lithocarpus pachyphyllus (Kurz) Rehd. (Fagaceae)
Authors: Qin Xiang-Dong , Liu Ji-Kai 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
A new sweet dihydrochalcone-glucoside, trilobatin 2″- acetate (1), was isolated from the leaves of Lithocarpus pachyphyllus, together with phlorizin and trilobatin. The structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including one- and two-dimensional NMR (COSY, HMQC and HMBC).
Cytotoxic Activity of Pisosterol, a Triterpene Isolated from Pisolithus tinctorius (Mich.: Pers.) Coker & Couch, 1928
Authors: Montenegro Raquel Carvalho , Jimenez Paula C. , Feio Farias Rômulo Augusto , Andrade-Neto Manoel , Silva Bezerra Franciglauber , Moraes Maria Elisabete A. , Odorico de Moraes Manoel , Pessoa Cláudia , Costa-Lotufo Letícia V. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Pisolithus tinctorius (Basidiomycete) is an ectomicorrhizal fungus found in the roots and soil surrounding of many species of eucalyptus and pine trees. The present work verified the cytotoxic potential of pisosterol, a triterpene isolated from P. tinctorius collected in the Northeast region of Brazil, on three different animal cell models: mouse erythrocytes, sea urchin embryos and tumor cells. Pisosterol lacked activity on mouse erythrocytes as well as on the development of sea urchin eggs, but strongly inhibited the growth of all seven tumor cell lines tested, especially the leukemia and melanoma cells (IC50 of 1.55, 1.84 and 1.65 μg/ ml for CEM, HL-60 and B16, respectively). The results found for pisosterol were compared with those of doxorubicin and etoposide
Complement Inhibiting Properties of Dragon’s Blood from Croton draco
Authors: Tsacheva Ivanka , Rostan Joerg , Iossifova Tania , Vogler Bernhard , Odjakova Mariela , Navas Hernan , Kostova Ivanka , Kojouharova Michaela , Kraus Wolfgang 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The latex of Croton draco, its extracts and several latex components have been investigated for their influence on both classical (CP) and alternative (AP) activation pathways of the complement system using a hemolytic assay. The best inhibition was found for the classical pathway. The latex, ethyl acetate and ethyl ether extracts exhibited extremely high inhibition on the CP (94, 90 and 77%, respectively) at a concentration of 1 mg/ml. The flavonoid myricitrin, the alkaloid taspine and the cyclopeptides P1 and P2 showed high inhibition on CP (83, 91, 78 and 63%, respectively) at a concentration of 0.9 mм.
Quantitative Changes of Secondary Metabolites of Matricaria chamomilla by Abiotic Stress
Authors: Eliašová Adriana , Repčák Miroslav , Pastírová Andrea 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The responses of young plants of diploid and tetraploid Matricaria chamomilla cultivars to abiotic stress were studied. The course of quantitative changes of main leaf secondary metabolites was evaluated within an interval from 6 h before to 54 h after spraying the leaf rosettes with aqueous CuCl2 solution. The content of herniarin in the treated plants rose approximately 3 times, simultaneously with a decline of its precursor (Z)- and (E)-2-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyloxy- 4-methoxycinnamic acid. The highest amounts of umbelliferone in stressed plants exceeded 9 times and 20 times those observed in control plants of the tetraploid and diploid cultivar, respectively. Due to stress the concentration of ene-yne-dicycloether in leaves decreased by more than 40%. The pattern of quantity changes of the examined compounds in tetraploid and diploid plants was similar.
The Antiproliferative Agents trans-Bis(resorcylaldoximato) copper(II) and trans-Bis(2,3,4- trihydroxybenzaldoximato)copper(II) and Cytopathic Effects of HIV
Authors: Elo Hannu 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
trans-Bis(resorcylaldoximato)copper(II) and trans-bis- (2,3,4-trihydroxybenzaldoximato)copper(II) (CuRES2 and CuTRI2, respectively) have been tested for antiviral properties against HIV, using an in vitro assay that measures the ability of the test compounds to prevent the killing of susceptible human cells by HIV. In the case of CuTRI2, T4 lymphocytes (CEM-V and CEM-Z cell lines) were exposed to HIV at a virus to cell ratio approx. 0.05 in microtiter plates. In the case of CuRES2, a human leukemia cell line (MT-2) was used instead. The tetrazolium salt XTT was added to all wells, and the cultures were incubated and analyzed spectrophotometrically to quantitate formazan production and viewed microscopically for detection of viable cells. In spite of their antiproliferative properties, neither agent had any detectable ability to prevent the cytopathic effects of HIV in cultures of the target cells used. Because the test system employed was constructed in such a way as to detect antiviral agents acting at any stage of the virus reproductive cycle, the results obtained strongly suggest that neither studied agent has any value as the direct prevention of the cell destruction caused by HIV is concerned.
Comparison of Terpene Composition in Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannii) Using Hydrodistillation, SPME and PLE
Authors: Mardarowicz Marek , Wianowska Dorota , Dawidowicz Andrzej L. , Sawicki Ryszard 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Terpenes emitted by conifer trees are generally determined by analysing plant extracts or essential oils, prepared from foliage and cones using steam distillation. The application of these procedures limits experiments to cut plant materials. Recently headspace techniques have been adopted to examine terpene emission by living plants. This paper deals with the application of solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) for the analysis of terpenes emitted by conifers foliage of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), including its seedlings. The compositions of SPME extracts obtained for destroyed and non-destroyed old and juvenile spruce needles were compared with the compositions of essential oils and pressurised liquid extraction (PLE) extracts corresponding to the same plant materials. No substantial differences have been found in the qualitative terpene composition estimated by analysing essential oil and PLE and SPME extracts from non-destroyed old and juvenile foliage. The disintegration of spruce needles results in the formation of a significant amount of myrcene in the case of the old conifer foliage and non-terpenoic compounds in the case of juvenile conifer foliage. This phenomenon can be attributed to enzymatic reactions occurring in the destroyed plant cells.
Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. from Iran
Authors: Sonboli Ali , Salehi Peyman , Yousefzadi Morteza 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd., an endemic species from Iran, was studied. The oil was obtained from the aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds, accounting for 99.8% of the total oil, were identified. The main constituents were 1,8-cineol (47.9%) and 4aα,7α,7aβ- nepetalactone (20.3%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil of N. crispa was tested against seven gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria and four fungi. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobial activity, in which the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, were the most sensitive to the oil. Also, the oil exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against all the tested fungi.
Biological Evaluation of Some Selected Cyclic Imides: Mitochondrial Effects and in vitro Cytotoxicity
Authors: Tozado Prado Silvia Regina , Cechinel-Filho Valdir , Campos Buzzi Fátima , Corrêa Rogério , Correia Suter Cadena Silvia Maria , Martinelli de Oliveira Maria Benigna 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Cyclic imides such as succinimides, maleimides, glutarimides, phthalimides and their derivatives contain an imide ring and a general structure -CO-N(R)-CO- that confers hydrophobicity and neutral characteristic. A diversity of biological activities and pharmaceutical uses have been attributed to them, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antinociceptive, anticonvulsant, antitumor. In spite of these activities, much of their action mechanisms at molecular and cellular levels remain to be elucidated. We now show the effects of several related cyclic imides: maleimides (S2, S2.1, S2.2, S3), glutarimides (S4, S5, S6), 4-aminoantipyrine derivatives (L1, F1, AL1, F1.14, F1.2) and sulfonated succinimides (RO1, FA, FE, FD, MC, DMC) on isolated rat liver mitochondria, B16-F10 melanoma cell line, peritoneal macrophages and different bacterial streams. The effects on mitochondrial respiratory parameters, cell viability and antibacterial activity were also evaluated.
The results indicated that S3, S5 and S6 caused an increased oxygen consumption in the presence of ADP (state III) or its absence (state IV), while all other compounds decreased those parameters at different degrees of inhibition. All the compounds decreased the respiratory control coefficient (RCC). Loss of cell viability of peritoneal macrophages and the B16- F10 cell line was observed, L1 and S2.1 being more effective. S1, S2, S3, L1 and F1 compounds showed antibacterial activity at experimental concentrations.
Salicylic Acid Glucoside Acts as a Slow Inducer of Oxidative Burst in Tobacco Suspension Culture
Authors: Kawano Tomonori , Tanaka Shigeo , Kadono Takashi , Muto Shoshi 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Salicylic acid β-glucoside (SAG) is a storage form of a defense signal against pathogens, releasing free salicylic acid (SA), to meet the requirements in plants. Since excess SA induces locally restricted cell death following oxidative burst and Ca2+ influx in plants, the effects of SAG on cell viability, Ca2+ influx, and generation of superoxide (O•−) were examined in suspension-cultured tobacco BY-2 cells expressing aequorin. Among SA-related chemicals tested, only SAG induced the slow and long-lasting O2
•− generation, although SAG was less active in acute O2
•− generation, Ca2+ influx and induction of cell death. The prolonging action of SAG is likely due to gradual release of SA and the data suggested that a peroxidasedependent reaction is involved. Notably, pretreatment with low-dose SA (50 μm) enhanced the response to SAG by 2.5-fold. There are four possible secondary messengers in early SA signaling detectable in the BY-2 culture, namely O2
•−, H2O2, Ca2+ and protein kinase (PK). If these messengers are involved in the low-dose SA-dependent priming for SAG response, they should be inducible by low-dose SA. Among the four SA-inducible signaling events, PK activation was excluded from the low-dose SA action since a much higher SA dose (> 0.4 mм) was required for PK activation.
Analysis of the Labial Gland Secretions of the Male Bumblebee Bombus griseocollis (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: Bertsch Andreas , Schweer Horst , Titze Andreas 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
The labial gland secretions from males of the bumblebee Bombus (Separatobombus) griseocollis De Geer, a bumblebee exhibiting perching behaviour, were analysed by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the electron impact and positive ion chemical ionization mode. The major compound of the complex mixture of alkenols, acetates, hydrocarbons, wax type esters and steroids is tetradecyl acetate, considerable amounts of hexadecyl, geranyllinaloyl, geranylgeranyl, docosyl, tetracosenyl and hexacosenyl acetate were also found. 1,3-Tetradecanediol diacetate, detected as a minor component, has not yet been identified in male bumblebee labial gland secretions. Besides small amounts of primary alcohols (tetradecanol and hexadecanol) the tertiary alcohol geranyllinalool (3,7,11,15-tetramethyl- hexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene-3-ol) was also present. The primary alcohols were also present as esters of butanoic, dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, and hexadecanoic acid. Besides the usual mixture of un- and mono-unsaturated straight chain hydrocarbons, the labial gland contains the isoprenoid hydrocarbons β-springene [(6E,10E)-7,11,15-trimethyl-3-methylenehexadeca-1,6,10,14-tetraene] and two isomers of α-springene [(3Z,6E,10E)- and (3E,6E,10E)-3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-hexadeca-1,3,6,10,14-pentaene]. The close relationship in chemical composition in male bumblebees with perching and flight pass behaviour is discussed.
Interactions of Novel Morpholine and Hexamethylene Derivatives of Anthracycline Antibiotics with DNA
Authors: Piestrzeniewicz Mariola K , Wilmańska Dorota , Szemraj Janusz , Studzian Kazimierz , Gniazdowski Marek 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX), daunorubicin (DRB), epidoxorubicin (EDOX) and their analogues with a 3′-NH2 group in daunosamine form a covalent bond with a 2-NH2 group of guanine via a methylene group from formaldehyde (CH2O). It is assumed that a Schiff base type intermediate is formed between CH2O and the 3′-NH2 group in the reaction. This reaction is supposed to occur in the cell. New analogues of anthracyclines with formamidine functionality bound to C-3′ of daunosamine and containing the bulky morpholine (DRBM, DOXM and EDOXM) or hexamethyleneimine rings attached are studied in our laboratory. These substituents decrease the association of the drugs to DNA and potentially hinder the formation of Schiff base-intermediates. Our experiments indicate that the formation of the covalent complexes by DRB, DOX and EDOX under these conditions is confirmed by a high enhancement (17-40x) of the inhibition of overall RNA synthesis by E. coli RNA polymerase on T7 DNA. DRBM and DOXM exhibit a lower enhancement of the inhibition by CH2O (7-13x). The other analogues show a 1.6-3x increase of inhibition. Hence, their covalent binding is lower than that of the parent compounds. These conclusions are confirmed by spectrophotometric estimations following removal of non-covalently associated drugs. Electrophoretic analysis of drug-DNA complexes formed in the presence of CH2O indicates that DRBM and DOXM as their parent compounds induce labile cross-links in DNA. Comparison of the results obtained at the subcellular level with cytotoxicity estimations indicates that there is a correlation between cytotoxicity of the anthracyclines on L1210 cells and transcriptional template activity of drug-DNA complexes formed in the presence of CH2O (r = 0.64; n = 9). These data confirm a notion that covalent attachment of anthracyclines to DNA is an essential event leading to cytotoxicity.
Cloning and Expression of Taxus Acyltransferase cDNA
Authors: Tu Jun , Zhu Ping , Cheng Ke-di , Liu Jiangguo 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
A new full-length acyltransferase cDNA was obtained from Taxus chinensis by homologybased cloning strategy. The cDNA has an open-reading frame of 1,275 nucleotides, which encodes 425 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 47,241 Da and an estimated pI value of 5.93. The deduced amino acid sequence resembles the sequences of other cloned acyltransferases (56-61% identity; 71-75% similarity) involved directly in taxol biosynthetic pathways. This cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli using the expression vector pET- 32a(+). The expression band corresponds to the calculated mass plus the N-terminal fusion protein derived from the vector.
Bioactive Saponins from Astragalus suberi L. Growing in Yemen
Authors: Abbas Fawkeya , Zayed Rawia 
Published: February 2015

From the aerial parts of Astragalus suberi L., Fabaceae, seven saponins were isolated. Based on spectral data (IR, 1H and 13C NMR and HR-FABMS), the structures were established as 3-O-(β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl)-soyasapogenol B (1); 3-O-(β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl)- soyasapogenol B (2); 3-O-[β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]-soyasapogenol B (3); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]- soyasapogenol B (4); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl]-11-hydroxy-soyasapogenol B (5); 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (152)-β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl]-soyasapogenol B (6) and 3-O-[α-ʟ-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-galactopyranosyl (1→2)-β-ᴅ-glucuronopyranosyl]-complogenin (7).
The isolated saponins exhibited antibacterial activities against Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria with minimum inhibitory concentration values > 100 μg/ml, antifungal activity against all the strains tested with minimum fungicidal concentration values between 25 and 50 μg/ml and inhibited the growth of Hep-2 (human carcinoma of larynx), with IC50 values between 50 μg/ml (compounds 5-7) and 100 μg/ml (compounds 1-4), and Hela (human carcinoma of cervix) cell lines in culture with different IC50 values [74 compound 7), 98 (compound 5) and 180 μg/ml (compounds 1-4 and 6)]
Relay Cropping for Improved Air and Water Quality
Authors: Schepers James S. , Francis Dennis D. , Shanahan John F. 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Using plants to extract excess nitrate from soil is important in protecting against eutrophication of standing water, hypoxic conditions in lakes and oceans, or elevated nitrate concentrations in domestic water supplies. Global climate change issues have raised new concerns about nitrogen (N) management as it relates to crop production even though there may not be an immediate threat to water quality. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are frequently considered the primary cause of global climate change, but under anaerobic conditions, animals can contribute by expelling methane (CH4) as do soil microbes. In terms of the potential for global climate change, CH4 is ~ 25 times more harmful than CO2. This differential effect is minuscule compared to when nitrous oxide (N2O) is released into the atmosphere because it is ~ 300 times more harmful than CO2. N2O losses from soil have been positively correlated with residual N (nitrate, NO3 -) concentrations in soil. It stands to reason that phytoremediation via nitrate scavenger crops is one approach to help protect air quality, as well as soil and water quality. Winter wheat was inserted into a seed corn/soybean rotation to utilize soil nitrate and thereby reduce the potential for nitrate leaching and N2O emissions. The net effect of the 2001- 2003 relay cropping sequence was to produce three crops in two years, scavenge 130 kg N/ha from the root zone, produce an extra 2 Mg residue/ha, and increase producer profitability by ~ $ 250/ha.
Adaptative Evolution of Metallothionein 3 in the Cd/Zn Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens
Authors: Roosens Nancy H. , Bernard Catherine , Leplae Raphael , Verbruggen Nathalie 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
A functional screening in yeast allowed to identify various cDNAs from the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. TcMT3 displayed high identity with its closest homologue in Arabidopsis thaliana but variation in its Cys residues. Functional analysis in yeast supported a higher binding capacity for Cu, but not for Cd or Zn, of TcMT3 compared to AtMT3. Expression analysis in plants indicated that metallothionein 3 (MT3) like all the other T. caerulescens genes from the screen studied is overexpressed in all studied populations of T. caerulescens compared to A. thaliana. TcMT3 was induced by Cu, but not by Cd. Moreover significant variation in expression within T. caerulescens populations that have contrasting tolerance and accumulation capacities indicated a possible local adaptation of MT3.