title: Isolation, Characterization and Synthesis of a Phenyl-substituted Pyrrole Isolated from the Flavonoid Fraction of Mānuka Honey

authors: Chan, Ching Wan

subjects: Mānuka Honey

abstract: Compound 1, which occurs in the flavonoid fraction of mānuka honey and showed a statistical correlation with the non-peroxide antibacterial activity of the honeys, was extracted from fifteen kilograms of mānuka honey using Amberlite XAD-2 resin and liquid-liquid extraction, and isolated by a combination of Sephadex-LH20 column chromatography and HPLC. Characterization of 1 was achieved by one and 2D- 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS and 1 was identified as 2-formyl-5-(2-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole. In addition to 1, two other non-flavonoids were isolated from the flavonoid fraction and their identities confirmed as caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. Synthesis of 9 (3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-(oxazol-4-yl) propan-1-one), an intermediate in the route to 1, gave a yield of 67.5% as a pale yellow crystals after crystallization from CH2Cl2/hexane. Synthesis of 1 from 9 only resulted in barely traceable amount of 1. The dominant product after recrystallization from CH2Cl2/hexane was 10 ((E)-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-(oxazol-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one) which was the dehydrated analogue of 9. The synthesis of 1 was repeated. The product mixture was fractionated on a silica gel column, followed by two cycles of preparative layer chromatography applied to the fractions which contained 1 and yield 0.36 mg of 1 (0.00179 mmol, 0.2%).

text: Isolation, Characterization and Synthesis of a Phenyl-substituted Pyrrole Isolated from the Flavonoid Fraction of Mānuka Honey Compound 1, which occurs in the flavonoid fraction of mānuka honey and showed a statistical correlation with the non-peroxide antibacterial activity of the honeys, was extracted from fifteen kilograms of mānuka honey using Amberlite XAD-2 resin and liquid-liquid extraction, and isolated by a combination of Sephadex-LH20 column chromatography and HPLC. Characterization of 1 was achieved by one and 2D- 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and GC-MS and 1 was identified as 2-formyl-5-(2-methoxyphenyl)-pyrrole. In addition to 1, two other non-flavonoids were isolated from the flavonoid fraction and their identities confirmed as caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid. Synthesis of 9 (3-hydroxy-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-(oxazol-4-yl) propan-1-one), an intermediate in the route to 1, gave a yield of 67.5% as a pale yellow crystals after crystallization from CH2Cl2/hexane. Synthesis of 1 from 9 only resulted in barely traceable amount of 1. The dominant product after recrystallization from CH2Cl2/hexane was 10 ((E)-1-(2-methoxyphenyl)-3-(oxazol-4-yl)prop-2-en-1-one) which was the dehydrated analogue of 9. The synthesis of 1 was repeated. The product mixture was fractionated on a silica gel column, followed by two cycles of preparative layer chromatography applied to the fractions which contained 1 and yield 0.36 mg of 1 (0.00179 mmol, 0.2%).

year: 2011

title: De-mythologizing and re-branding of kava as the new ‘world drug’ of choice

authors: Aporosa, S. 'Apo'

abstract: What seemed impossible 50 years ago is today becoming a reality as ‘soft drugs’ such as cannabis are being decriminalized and accepted for their calming effects as well as their legitimate medicinal properties. Several countries have now made the possession of cannabis legal, with others considering this, while the coffee shops in the Netherlands have been supplying cannabis in different forms for many years. It is now the turn of kava to be re-evaluated, to see whether there are properties in this plant that might be readily substituted for more conventional and harmful drugs, for instance tobacco and alcohol. However, as highlighted by Norton and Ruze (1994), kava like cannabis, has an enduring reputation that still makes it difficult for many to accept. Kava has been mythologized as an illicit alcohol, highly addictive, and causing physical harm. When examining the history of kava use in traditional contexts and considering the evidence now available, it is possible to demythologize this characterization. Looking at the potential benefits, it is time to re-brand kava, not only on the grounds as a relaxant, but in possessing life enhancing medicinal properties and as an alternative to alcohol, understanding that will be beneficial to policy makers, doctors and pharmacists.

text: De-mythologizing and re-branding of kava as the new ‘world drug’ of choice What seemed impossible 50 years ago is today becoming a reality as ‘soft drugs’ such as cannabis are being decriminalized and accepted for their calming effects as well as their legitimate medicinal properties. Several countries have now made the possession of cannabis legal, with others considering this, while the coffee shops in the Netherlands have been supplying cannabis in different forms for many years. It is now the turn of kava to be re-evaluated, to see whether there are properties in this plant that might be readily substituted for more conventional and harmful drugs, for instance tobacco and alcohol. However, as highlighted by Norton and Ruze (1994), kava like cannabis, has an enduring reputation that still makes it difficult for many to accept. Kava has been mythologized as an illicit alcohol, highly addictive, and causing physical harm. When examining the history of kava use in traditional contexts and considering the evidence now available, it is possible to demythologize this characterization. Looking at the potential benefits, it is time to re-brand kava, not only on the grounds as a relaxant, but in possessing life enhancing medicinal properties and as an alternative to alcohol, understanding that will be beneficial to policy makers, doctors and pharmacists.

year: 2019

title: Boat electrofishing survey of fish populations in the Ohau Channel in December 2010

authors: Hicks, Brendan J.

abstract: The original purpose of this series of surveys was to apply an independent method to estimate the densities of common smelt and bullies in the Ohau Channel at fixed points along the bank which coincided with trap netting sites used by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Since the low number of smelt captured by a single day’s boat electrofishing became apparent compared to the numbers captured by seasonal trapping, the aim of the survey has been modified to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura).

text: Boat electrofishing survey of fish populations in the Ohau Channel in December 2010 The original purpose of this series of surveys was to apply an independent method to estimate the densities of common smelt and bullies in the Ohau Channel at fixed points along the bank which coincided with trap netting sites used by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Since the low number of smelt captured by a single day’s boat electrofishing became apparent compared to the numbers captured by seasonal trapping, the aim of the survey has been modified to provide on-going monitoring of the fish communities and abundance in the Ohau Channel, especially fish species that are taonga to Maori (eels, goldfish, and koura).

year: 2011-11-15