Constituents of Musa balbisiana seeds and their activity against Cryptolestes pusillus

The chloroform and acetone extracts of the seeds of Musa balbisiana Colla (Musaceae) and four of its constituents were assayed in the diet for toxicity against the flat grain beetle (Cryptolestes pusillus Schöherr). A mixture of fatty esters of phytol and the flavan (+)-epiafzelechin showed a significant growth inhibition and toxicity against this economically important pest of stored cereals. The LD₅₀ was 6.3% for the most active compound, (+)-epiafzelechin.     

Consequence of the antioxidant activities and tyrosinase inhibitory effects of various extracts from the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ferulae

This study was initiated to screen the antioxidant activities, tyrosinase inhibitory effects on the fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ferulae extracted with acetone, methanol and hot water. The antioxidant activities were performed on β-carotene–linoleic acid, reducing power, DPPH, ferrous ions chelating abilities, and xanthine oxidase. In addition to this, phenolic compounds were also analyzed. The methanolic extract showed the strongest β-carotene–linoleic acid inhibition and high reducing power as compared to other extracts. The scavenging effects on DPPH radicals, the acetonic and methanolic extracts were more effective than hot water extracts. The strongest chelating effect was obtained from the methanolic extract as compared to the tested synthetic antioxidant. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, ferulic acid, naringin, resveratrol, naringenin, hesperetin, formononetin and biochanin-A were detected from acetonitrile and hydrochloric acid (5:1) solvent extract. Xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of acetonic, methanolic, and hot water extracts of P. ferulae increased with increasing concentration. The results suggested that consumption of P. ferulae might be beneficial to the antioxidant, xanthine oxidase, and tyrosinase protection system of the human body against oxidative damage and others complications.     

Chemical constituents from the fruits of Sonneratia caseolaris and Sonneratia ovata (Sonneratiaceae)

Nine (1–9) and seven (1–6, 10) compounds were isolated from the fruits of Sonneratia caseolaris and Sonneratia ovata, respectively. Their structures were identified by comparing their MS and NMR data as well as the physical properties with the literature. All the isolated compounds were screened against a rat glioma C-6 cell line using the MTT assay method; only compounds (-)-(R)-nyasol (1), (-)-(R)-4′-O-methylnyasol (2) and maslinic acid (6) were found to show moderate cytotoxic activity. Our findings from these two kinds of fruits can be used as a foundation for further chemotaxonomic studies on Sonneratia species. The nor-lignans (1, 2) and 6H-benzo[b,d]pyran-6-one derivatives (3, 4) were isolated from this genus for the first time, indicating that these two classes of compounds may tentatively be considered as taxonomic markers for Sonneratia genus.     

Insecticidal activity of Bacillus thuringiensis crystal proteins

Published data on insecticidal activity of crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis are incorporated into the Bt toxin specificity relational database. To date, 125 of the 174 holotype known toxins have been tested in ∼1700 bioassays against 163 test species; 49 toxins have not been tested at all; 59 were tested against 71 Lepidoptera species in 1182 bioassays; 53 toxins were tested against 23 Diptera species in 233 bioassays; and 47 were tested against 39 Coleoptera species in 190 bioassays. Activity spectra of the tested toxins were summarized for each order. Comparisons of LC₅₀ values are confounded by high variability of the estimates, mostly due to within-species variation in susceptibility, and errors associated with estimation of toxin protein content. Limited analyses suggest that crystal protein toxicity is not affected by quarternary toxin rank or host used for gene expression, but that pre-ingestion treatment by solubilization or enzymatic processing has a large effect. There is an increasing number of toxin families with cross-order activity, as 15 of the 87 families (secondary rank) that are pesticidal are active against more than one order. Cross-order activity does not threaten environmental safety of B. thuringiensis-based pest control because toxins tend to be much less toxic to taxa outside the family’s primary specificity range.     

Olea europaea leaf (Ph.Eur.) extract as well as several of its isolated phenolics inhibit the gout-related enzyme xanthine oxidase

In Mediterranean folk medicine Olea europaea L. leaf (Ph.Eur.) preparations are used as a common remedy for gout. In this in vitro study kinetic measurements were performed on both an 80% ethanolic (v/v) Olea europaea leaf dry extract (OLE) as well as on nine of its typical phenolic constituents in order to investigate its possible inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase (XO), an enzyme well known to contribute significantly to this pathological process. Dixon and Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis were used to determine K_i values and the inhibition mode for the isolated phenolics, which were analysed by RP-HPLC for standardisation of OLE. The standardised OLE as well as some of the tested phenolics significantly inhibited the activity of XO. Among these, the flavone aglycone apigenin exhibited by far the strongest effect on XO with a K_i value of 0.52 μM. In comparison, the known synthetic XO inhibitor allopurinol, used as a reference standard, showed a K_i of 7.3 μM. Although the phenolic secoiridoid oleuropein, the main ingredient of the extract (24.8%), had a considerable higher K_i value of 53.0 μM, it still displayed a significant inhibition of XO. Furthermore, caffeic acid (K_i of 11.5 μM; 1.89% of the extract), luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucoside (K_i of 15.0 μM; 0.86%) and luteolin (K_i of 2.9 μM; 0.086%) also contributed significantly to the XO inhibiting effect of OLE. For oleuropein, a competitive mode of inhibition was found, while all other active substances displayed a mixed mode of inhibition. Tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside, and apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, which makes up for 0.3% of the extract, were inactive in all tested concentrations. Regarding the pharmacological in vitro effect of apigenin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, it has to be considered that it is transformed into the active apigenin aglycone in the mammalian body, thus also contributing substantially to the anti-gout activity of olive leaves. For the first time, this study provides a rational basis for the traditional use of olive leaves against gout in Mediterranean folk medicine.     

Vasoprotective activity of standardized Achillea millefolium extract

We investigated the effects of Achillea millefolium extract in vitro on the growth of primary rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) as well as the potential involvement of estrogen receptors (ERs) in this process. In addition, the ability of A. millefolium extract to modulate the NF-κB pathway was tested in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The fingerprinting of the extract was carried out by HPLC-DAD and LC-MSⁿ and main constituents were flavonoids (10%) and dicaffeolylquinic acid derivatives (12%). The extract enhanced VSMC growth at least in part by acting through ERs and impaired NF-κB signaling in HUVECs. The various compounds may act with different mode of actions thus contributing to the final effect of the extract. Our findings support some of the traditional uses of A. millefolium, and suggest potential modes of action as related to its effects on vascular inflammation. Therefore, A. millefolium may induce novel potential actions in the cardiovascular system.     

Lavandula angustifolia essential oil as a novel and promising natural candidate for tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus) control

Lavandula angustifolia is a well known herbal medicine with a variety of useful properties, including its acaricidal effect. This experiment was carried out to study the bioacaricidal activity of L. angustifolia essential oil (EO) against engorged Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus (Acari; Ixodidae) females. For this purpose six serial concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0% w/v) of L. angustifolia EO were used. There was considerable mortality in concentrations more than 4.0% although there were no differences between 6.0 and 8.0% in all measured criteria. The mortality rate 24 h after inoculation was 73.26 and 100% in groups treated with 4.0 and 8.0% EO, respectively. Lavender EO also reduced tick egg weight in a concentration-dependent manner. The amount of eggs produced varied from 0.12 g (at 0.5% EO) to 0.00 g (at 8.0% EO) but did not differ statistically from the control. L. angustifolia EO caused 100% failure in egg laying at 6.0 and 8.0% whereas this value in the control group was zero. A positive correlation between L. angustifolia EO concentration and tick control, assessed by relative mortality rate and egg-laying weight, was observed by the EO LC/EC₅₀, which, when calculated using the Probit test, was 2.76-fold higher than the control. Lavender is a promising acaricidal against R. (B.) annulatusin vitro.     

Chemical constituents from Tsoongiodendron odorum Chun

The present study reports the isolation of sixteen lignans (1–16), an aporphine alkaloid (17), two phenolic amides (18 and 19), and a germacrane sesquiterpene lactone (20) from T. odorum. Except for compound 20, the other isolated constituents are firstly reported from T. odorum. And in this study, three polylignans (11–13) and six norlignans (5–7, 14–16) are reported for the first time from the Magnoliaceae family, which may support the opinion to establish Tsoongiodendron as a monotypic genus from a chemotaxonomical point of view.     

Mycobiota associated with the ambrosia beetle Scolytodes unipunctatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae)

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) are associated with strictly entomochoric and mutualistic fungi. We studied the mycobiota associated with Scolytodes unipunctatus, ambrosia beetles that infest Cecropia trees in Central America. Isolates were characterized using morphology and rDNA sequences (ITS region, LSU, and SSU rDNA). Four species are described here: Raffaelea scolytodis sp. nov. (Ophiostomatales), Gondwanamyces scolytodis sp. nov., Custingophora cecropiae sp. nov., and Graphium sp. (Microascales). The genus Custingophora is emended to include Knoxdaviesia anamorphs of Gondwanamyces based on uniformity of DNA sequences and phenotype.     

Systematics and evolution of the genus Torrubiella (Hypocreales, Ascomycota)

Torrubiella is a genus of arthropod-pathogenic fungi that primarily attacks spiders and scale insects. Based on the morphology of the perithecia, asci, and ascospores, it is classified in Clavicipitaceae s. lat. (Hypocreales), and is considered a close relative of Cordyceps s. 1., which was recently reclassified into three families (Clavicipitaceae s. str., Cordycipitaceae, Ophiocordycipitaceae) and four genera (Cordyceps s. str, Elaphocordyceps, Metacordyceps, and Ophiocordyceps). Torrubiella is distinguished morphologically from Cordyceps s. lat. mainly by the production of superficial perithecia and the absence of a well-developed stipitate stroma. To test and refine evolutionary hypotheses regarding the placement of Torrubiella and its relationship to Cordyceps s. lat., a multi-gene phylogeny was constructed by conducting ML and Bayesian analyses. The monophyly of Torrubiella was rejected by these analyses with species of the genus present in Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae, and Ophiocordycipitaceae, and often intermixed among species of Cordyceps s. lat. The morphological characters traditionally used to define the genus are, therefore, not phylogenetically informative, with the stipitate stromata being gained and/or lost several times among clavicipitaceous fungi. Two new genera (Conoideocrella, Orbiocrella) are proposed to accommodate two separate lineages of torrubielloid fungi in the Clavicipitaceae s. str. In addition, one species is reclassified in Cordyceps s. str. and three are reclassified in Ophiocordyceps. The phylogenetic importance of anamorphic genera, host affiliation, and stipitate stromata is discussed.     

Real-time PCR detection of Holophagae (Acidobacteria) and Verrucomicrobia subdivision 1 groups in bulk and leek (Allium porrum) rhizosphere soils

In the light of the poor culturability of Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia species, group-specific real-time (qPCR) systems were developed based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences from culturable representatives of both groups. The number of DNA targets from three different groups, i.e. Holophagae (Acidobacteria group 8) and Luteolibacter/Prosthecobacter and unclassified Verrucomicrobiaceae subdivision 1, was determined in DNA extracts from different leek (Allium porrum) rhizosphere soil compartments and from bulk soil with the aim to determine the distribution of the three bacterial groups in the plant-soil ecosystem. The specificity of the designed primers was evaluated in three steps. First, in silico tests were performed which demonstrated that all designed primers 100% matched with database sequences of their respective groups, whereas lower matches with other non-target bacterial groups were found. Second, PCR amplification with the different primer sets was performed on genomic DNA extracts from target and from non-target bacteria. This test demonstrated specificity of the designed primers for the target groups, as single amplicons of expected sizes were found only for the target bacteria. Third, the qPCR systems were tested for specific amplifications from soil DNA extracts and 48 amplicons from each primer system were sequenced. All sequences were > 97% similar to database sequences of the respective target groups. Estimated cell numbers based on Holophagae-, Luteolibacter/Prosthecobacter- and unclassified Verrucomicrobiaceae subdivision 1-specific qPCRs from leek rhizosphere compartments and bulk soils demonstrated higher preference for one or both rhizosphere compartments above bulk soil for all three bacterial groups.     

Expression profiles of seven glutathione S-transferase (GST) genes in cadmium-exposed river pufferfish (Takifugu obscurus)

Glutathione S-transferase (GST; EC 2.5.1.18) plays a critical role in detoxification pathways. In this study, we report cloning and expression of seven genes of the GST family of the pufferfish Takifugu obscurus together with mRNA tissue distribution pattern and time-course of expression in response to exposure to cadmium. At basal levels of tissue expression, GST-Mu is highly expressed in liver compared with other tissues. When fish were exposed to cadmium (5 mg/L for 96 h), expression of GST-MAPEG, GST-Mu, GST-Omega, and GST-Zeta was greatly increased, whereas GST-Alpha and GST-Kappa genes showed no significant response. These findings suggest that gene expression of a number of GST isoforms in T. obscurus is modulated in response to exposure to cadmium. We propose GST-Mu, GST-Theta, and GST-Zeta as candidate biomarkers for heavy metal exposure in this fish.