Dehydrodieugenols from Ocotea cymbarum

The trunk wood of Ocotea cymbarum from the Amazon basin contains α-phellandrene, α-pinene, eugenol, dehydrodieugenol and its monomethyl ether, as well as the previously unknown dehydrodieugenol-B (4,5′-diallyl-2′-hydroxy-2,3′-dimethoxydiphenyl ether).     

Syphacia muris: Water permeability of eggs and its effect on hatching

As a result of a previous study, it appeared that hatching of eggs of Syphacia muris is activated by the application of heat (37 °C) or cysteine or trypsin but that these are not the essential stimuli. In the present study it has been established that exposure of eggs prior to hatching for several hours to 37 °C or cysteine or trypsin, or for 3 days to 22 °C, accelerated hatching. Pretreatment with 37 °C or cysteine or trypsin also increased permeability of the eggshell to water; however, it did not induce the operculum to open. The operculum opened only if the eggs, after pretreatment, were immersed in water. The larvae could leave the opened eggs only in water and not in any other medium such as paraffin oil. These data made it possible to distinguish between three stages in the hatching process. During Stage 1, the eggshell becomes permeable to water. This can be induced by dissolving the proteins of the eggshell in a trypsin solution or by stimulating the larvae with temperature or cysteine. The permeability of the eggshell is essential to successful hatching. In Stage 2, which occurs only in the presence of water, the larvae dissolve the chitinous seal between the operculum and the eggshell. In Stage 3 the larvae probably increase their size by water absorption and leave the eggs. In the discussion it has been proposed that all nematodes, both those hatching in the intestine and the species hatching in the open, could well have an identical hatching mechanism to the one observed in Syphacia muris.     

Trace constituents in the essential oil of Thymus capitatus

The essential oil of Thymus capitatus was investigated by glass capillary gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry. In the analysis, 22 hitherto unreported trace constituents were isolated, of which 20 were identified.     

Arabica coffee and olive oils mitigate malathion-induced nephrotoxicity in rat: In silico,immunohistochemical and biochemical evaluation

Malathion (MAL) is an organophosphate insecticide that disrupts the body's antioxidant system; it is one of the earliest organophosphate insecticides extensively used as dust, emulsion, and vapor control a wide variety of insect pests under different conditions. This experimentation aims to evaluate the influence of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil on MAL-induced nephrotoxicity in male rat. 6 sets bearing the same number of animals were applied to this experiment. Each set comprised 10 rats. The first set of rats was used as the control group; rats in the second set were exposed to MAL measured at 100 mg/kg body weight for 7 weeks. Animals in the third and fourth set were treated with 400 mg/kg body weight of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil, and 100 mg/kg body weight of MAL. The fifth, together with the sixth set, were fed with a similar proportion of Arabica coffee oil and olive oil as administered to the third set of rats. After the experimental duration, rats of group 2 showed severe biochemical alterations, including significant increases of creatinine, uric acids, and urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in marked decreases in serum albumin values and total protein (TP). Severe histopathological and immunohistochemical alterations of kidney tissues were observed in exposed MAL-intoxicated rats. Administration of these oils reduced the detected biochemical, histopathological modifications caused by MAL intoxication. Two active ingredients in Arabica coffee oil (oleic acid) and olive oil (hydroxytyrosol) showed good cyclooxygenase-2 (COX 2) interaction. Moreover, oleic acid from coffee oil and olive oil exhibited impressive association with xanthine oxidase (XO). The current finding showed that coffee oil and olive oil could be appraised as possible and a likely deterrence component against nephrotoxicity brought about by MAL.     

Effects of Aroma Components from Oxidized Olive Oil on Preference

The present study explored the possibility that aroma components generated by the oxidation of olive oil may enhance the palatability of olive oil. Using a mouse behavioral model, we found that olive oil oxidized at room temperature for 3 weeks after opening the package, and heated olive oil were both significantly preferred over non-oxidized olive oil. Furthermore, this preference was enhanced with an additive of oxidized refined olive oil flavoring preparation at a certain concentration. These results suggest that the aroma of oxidized fat might be present in most fats, and might act as a signal that makes possible the detection of fats or fatty acid sources.     

Rendiconti Delle Sedute E Brevi Comunicazioni

Abstract

The development of effective strategies to rehabilitate compromised environments is one of the major challenges facing the postindustrial society, since most of the habitats are becoming progressively polluted due to indiscriminate discharge of contaminants generated by anthropogenic activities. Several aquatic photosynthetic organisms can be used to treat wastewaters in primary and tertiary treatments, including cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants. In this review, we summarize the results obtained in the remediation of polluted waters by photosynthetic organisms and discuss the future perspective of phytoremediation.     

Effects of chemical and botanical insecticides used for locust control on Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum conidia after short- to medium-term storage at 30°C

The short- to medium-term viability and growth of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum conidia were investigated when combined with six insecticides, at three different concentrations. All of the insecticides used in this study were suitable for immediate spraying with M. anisopliae var. acridum conidia except for fenitrothion. Fipronil, teflubenzuron, and fenitrothion formulations significantly reduced conidial viability over time. The 10% teflubenzuron treatment caused loss of viability relatively quickly with 9.9% germination after 28 days. Mycelial growth was affected by all the treatments except fenitrothion.     

Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Lavandulapedunculata subsp. atlantica (Braun‐Blanq.) Romo Essential Oil and Selected Terpenoids against Resistant Bacteria Strains–Structure–Activity Relationships

The genus Lavandula is known for its different uses in traditional medicine. This study is interested in the chemical composition of Lavandulapedunculata subsp.atlantica (Braun‐Blanq. ) Romo as well as evaluating its antibacterial potential against multi‐resistant strains. The analysis of Lavandulaatlantica essential oil (LAEO) allows the identification of 47 components representing 93.6 % of all identified. The main constituent of LAEO was camphor (50.4 %), followed by fenchone (14.1 %) and camphene (5.6 %). The antibacterial assays revealed that LAEO was active against all the studied bacteria. A preliminary study of the relationship between certain terpenoids and antibacterial activity was also carried out in order to note the compound(s) that are responsible for LAEO's antibacterial activity. This study showed that the activity of the essential oil may be due to the presence of certain minor compounds such as carvone, considering the presence of the synergistic effect between the essential oil.