Medicinal applications of heavy-metal compounds

A brief summary of the key role for certain heavy-metal compounds in medicine is discussed, with a special focus on very recent findings in the following four topics: platinum anti-tumor compounds (novel mononuclear compounds, dinuclear compounds and trinuclear compounds with promising activity); ruthenium anti-tumor compounds (the first clinical trial for a Ru compound has begun); gadolinium NMR-imaging compounds (association with biomacromolecules is now possible); technetium compounds (the use of organometallic precursors opens a plethora of new species and enables the labeling of, for example, neurotransmitter molecules).     

Analysis of Bitter honey using gas chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Honey has been consumed by humans since ancient times. Honey contains volatile compounds like aldehyde, alcohol, ketone, hydrocarbon, terpenes, acids, benzene compounds. These compounds represent the fingerprint of monofloral honey there by providing information about the floral and geographical origin of honey. The volatile compounds present in honey not only contribute the aroma but also associated with the therapeutic activities of honey. In the present study, the GCMS/MS analysis of bitter honey was carried out to identify the presence of volatile compounds. This is the first study to determine the volatile compounds from ethyl acetate extract of bitter honey produced in the Nilgiri biosphere. Among the eighteen compounds detected, the majority of the compounds were reported to be therapeutically active. Hence further studies regarding the isolation of these compounds could be beneficial in the treatment of various diseases.     

Detection of organic compounds on Mars]

McKay et al. detected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Martian meteorite ALH 84001 by two-step laser mass spectrometry. From the presence of PAHs, together with other results, they concluded that there were past life of Mars. On the other hands, no organisms nor organic compounds were detected in Martian regolith in Viking experiments in 1976. In order to obtain solid evidence for organisms or bioorganic compounds compounds on Mars, further analyses of Martian samples are required. There may be four classes of organic compounds on Mars, which are (i) organic compounds abiotically formed from primitive Mars atmosphere, (ii) Organic compounds delivered out of Mars, (iii) Organic compounds biotically formed by Mars organisms, and (iv) Organic compounds abiotically formed from the present Mars atmosphere. Possible organic compounds on Mars and analytical methods for them are discussed.     

滇黔金腰、大叶金腰和锈毛金腰挥发油的化学成分

从贵州省宽阔水自然保护区采集滇黔金腰、大叶金腰和锈毛金腰,采用水蒸汽蒸馏法提取挥发油,用气相色谱—质谱联用技术对挥发油化学成分进行分析,共鉴定出85种成分,主要为十六烷酸、烷烃类、肉豆蔻酸和叶绿醇等化合物。其中,在滇黔金腰中共鉴定出48种化学成分,主要有十六烷酸(10.29%)和月桂酸(7.54%)等;在大叶金腰中共鉴定出50种化学成分,主要有邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己)酯(10.91%)和二十七烷(7.29%)等;在锈毛金腰中共鉴定出58种化学成分,主要有十六烷酸(12.66%)和三十二烷(8.15%)等。不同种金腰属植物挥发油的主要成分种类比较接近,但各自挥发油化合物组成又都含有其特有化学成分。     

天然活性先导化合物生物转化研究进展

天然活性先导化合物生物转化是利用生物催化剂(如：酶、微生物、动植物细胞)将加入到生物反应系统中的天然活性先导化合物进行特异性的分子结构修饰以获得高效、低毒新化合物的方法。该方法可以有效地提高已知的天然活性先导化合物的活性、降低毒副作用、改善水溶性和生物利用度,也可以用来生产具有重要应用价值的微量天然活性先导化合物,同时可用于药物代谢机制的研究。国内外学者已经针对甾体、醌类、黄酮类、萜类等化合物开展了天然活性先导化合物生物转化研究,筛选出一批有重要应用价值的生物转化反应类型,但针对天然活性先导化合物生物转化的机制、生物转化过程工程以及生物转化产物活性等方面的研究较少。将现代生命科学技术(如：生物催化剂的定向改造、高通量筛选、组合生物转化、非水相生物转化)引入天然活性先导化合物生物转化研究中,必将推进天然活性先导化合物的快速发展。     

Structural specificity of aromatic compounds with special reference to mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium--a series of chloro- or fluoro-nitrobenzene derivatives

The mutagenicity of 21 chloro- or fluoronitrobenzene compounds and 9 chloro- or fluorobenzene compounds in Salmonella typhimurium (strains TA98, TA1538, TA1537, TA100 and TA1535) was examined. The tests were carried out under the conditions of absence and presence of liver microsomal activation. 15 nitro-group compounds had mutagenic activity; above all, compounds of fluoronitrobenzene were mutagenic for both types of strain. On the other hand, chloronitrobenzene compounds were mutagenic for base-pair substitution strains only. Mutagenic activity was exhibited by all compounds having a chloro or fluoro substituent at the para and ortho position in the nitrobenzene nucleus. All compounds without a nitro substituent showed no mutagenic activity.     

Antifungal compounds from induced Conium maculatum L.plants

The study has shown that furanocoumarins are the predominant antifungal compounds in Conium maculatum. These are found constitutively in the healthy plant but the amounts of these compounds in induced tissue may increase markedly in some cases, e.g. the concentration of isopimpinellin increased by 103-fold in the CuCl₂ induced leaves compared with that in the control. Since these compounds increase largely as a result of chemical stress these compounds can be considered, at least in part, as stress compounds. Variation in the amount and proportion of the antifungal compounds was observed in our study following treatment with various biotic and abiotic elicitors. CuCl₂ produced the largest increase in the amounts of antifungal compounds. The simple coumarin, umbelliferone was the main induced compound in the CuCl₂ treated leaves, xanthotoxin in inoculated leaves and in CuCl₂ treated seedlings of C. maculatum. Variation was also observed in the rate of accumulation of individual compounds using the unspecific elicitor CuCl₂.     

Fig volatile compounds--a first comparative study

We analysed the compounds of volatile blends released by receptive figs of twenty Ficus species to attract their specific pollinating wasps. In all, 99 different compounds were identified. The compounds are mainly terpenoids, aliphatic compounds and products from the shikimic acid pathway. In each species blend, there are few major compounds, which are generally common among floral fragrances. Most species blends also include rare compounds, but generally their proportion in the blend is low. A possible basis for species-specificity of Ficus-wasp interactions is discussed in relation to the patterns of volatiles found in this interspecies comparison.     

Chemical Studies on Smelling Compounds in Hen’s Egg

Volatile smelling compounds of freezed egg white, freshness of which was kept by freezed storage, were collected by steam-distillation. After DNP-hydrazones of volatile carbonyl compounds were separated into four classes by column chromatography, DNP-hydrazones contained in each class were separated by thin layer chromatography. Rf and melting point of recrystalized compounds were compared with those of authentic compounds. Volatile basic compounds were collected as hydrochlorides and detected by paper and thin layer chromatography.

Acetone, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, 2-pentanone, 2-butanone diacetyl except two unknown compounds as volatile carbonyl compounds, and ammonia, methylamine, dime-thylamine and putrescine as volatile basic compounds were tentatively identified.

Correlations between these compounds and smell of freezed egg white were discussed.     

Microbial degradation of pollutants at high salt concentrations

Though our knowledge on microbial degradation of organic pollutants at high salt concentrations is still limited, the list of toxic compounds shown to be degraded or transformed in media of high salinity is growing. Compounds transformed aerobically include saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons (by certain archaeobacteria), certain aromatic compounds, organophosphorus compounds, and formaldehyde (by halotolerant eubacteria). Anaerobic microbial transformations of toxic compounds occurring at high salt concentrations include reduction of nitroaromatic compounds, and possibly transformation of chlorinated aromatic compounds.     

Gas Chromatographic and Mass Spectral Analyses of Heated Flavor Compounds of Beef Fats

The volatile compounds from beef fats heated under the cooking condition-145°C, l0 min-were isolated, and nonacidic compounds separated from them were further fractionated into five fractions by silicic acid column chromatography. The odor of nonacidic compounds significantly resembled the heated flavor of beef fats. Several carbonyl compounds, hydrocarbons, alcohols, lactones and pyrazine compounds in the fractionated compounds were identified with the techniques of gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their possible contribution to the heated beef fat flavor was discussed. The typical heated flavor could probably be ascribed to a proper combination of aldehydes, ketones, esters and sulfur-containing compounds.     

Fluorescence image screening for chemical compounds modifying cholesterol metabolism and distribution

An automated fluorescence microscopy assay using a nontoxic cholesterol binding protein, toxin domain 4, (D4), was developed in order to identify chemical compounds modifying intracellular cholesterol metabolism and distribution. Using this method, we screened a library of 1,056 compounds and identified 35 compounds that decreased D4 binding to the cell surface. Among them, 8 compounds were already reported to alter the biosynthesis or the intracellular distribution of cholesterol. The remaining 27 hit compounds were further analyzed biochemically and histochemically. Cell staining with another fluorescent cholesterol probe, filipin, revealed that 17 compounds accumulated cholesterol in the late endosomes. Five compounds decreased cholesterol biosynthesis, and two compounds inhibited the binding of D4 to the membrane. This visual screening method, based on the cholesterol-specific probe D4 in combination with biochemical analyses, is a cell-based, sensitive technique for identifying new chemical compounds and modifying cholesterol distribution and metabolism. Furthermore, it is suitable for high-throughput analysis for drug discovery.     

武夷岩茶炭焙工艺对肉桂乌龙茶挥发性组分的影响

以武夷岩茶当家茶树品种肉桂(Camellia sinensis ‘Rougui’)鲜叶制成的乌龙茶为试材,基于顶空固相微萃取法(HS-SPME)结合气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS),探讨武夷岩茶炭焙工艺对肉桂乌龙茶挥发性组分的影响。实验中共检测到样本挥发性成分443个,其中包括96个杂环化合物、81个酯类化合物、31个萜类化合物、42个芳香烃类化合物、55个酮类化合物、24个其他烃类化合物、35个醇类化合物、24个醛类化合物、15个酚类化合物、14个胺类化合物、10个酸类化合物、5个含氮化合物、3个含硫化合物等。经主成分分析及聚类分析显示,焙火工艺是影响乌龙茶挥发性成分含量的重要影响因子。随炭焙程度增加,不同类别物质中的多数挥发性成分含量随之显著升高,且以美拉德反应产物等具有茶叶烘炒香的吡嗪类、糠醛类衍生物、吡咯类等化合物最具代表性;同时,部分含量丰富且具有乌龙茶特殊花果香气的醇类、萜烯类物质如香叶醇、反式-橙花叔醇、植物醇、α-法尼烯等,及具清新花香的吲哚含量显著降低。然而,大多数挥发性差异代谢物随炭焙程度增加相对含量显著升高,并不代表茶叶中芳香物质总量增加。研究表明,乌龙茶精制烘焙过程中,香气物质的积累主要来自热作用下的美拉德反应及非酶促的降解和氧化,如黄酮苷类物质水解。     

Identification of autotoxic compounds from fibrous roots of Panax quinquefolium L.

Panax quinquefolium (American ginseng) is a perennial understory herb that has been widely used as a medicinal plant in China and other countries. Autotoxicity has been reported to be one of the major problems hindering the consecutive cultivation of American ginseng. However, the potential autotoxic compounds produced by the root of American ginseng are less well known. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of five groups of autotoxic compounds from aqueous extracts of the fibrous roots of American ginseng. Ether extracts of the water-soluble compounds were further analyzed and separated into seven fractions. Among them, the most autotoxic fraction (Fraction V) was subjected to GC/MS analysis, and 44 compounds were identified. Based on literature information, 14 individual compounds were selected and their autotoxic effects on seedling growth were further tested. The results revealed that, of these 14 compounds, 9 phenolic compounds significantly reduced the growth of seedlings in a concentration-dependent manner, while 5 aliphatic compounds showed modest inhibition at all three concentrations tested. Furthermore, we verified the existence of the autotoxic compounds in the plow layer soil of commercially cultivated American ginseng fields, and the concentration of these compounds as determined by HPLC analysis was in line with the concentration determined to be bioactive. Taken together, our study established a functional link between the compounds produced by American ginseng and their autotoxic effects.     

四氢蒽醌类化合物结构及其生物活性研究进展

四氢蒽醌类化合物是一类比较少见的天然结构,以微生物次生代谢产物居多,少量来源于植物,具有细胞毒活性、抗菌活性、抗疟原虫等生物活性。本文主要从四氢蒽醌类化合物及其衍生物的结构和生物活性两方面来对天然四氢蒽醌化合物进行综述,共综述了54个四氢蒽醌类化合物,45个来源于微生物,9个来源于植物南山花的根中,其中altersolanol A具有很好的抗肿瘤活性,是一个有很大吸引力的抗癌先导化合物。通过对四氢蒽醌类化合物的综述,为四氢蒽醌类化合物的进一步研究和开发提供依据。     

Bioactive phenolic compounds: production and extraction by solid-state fermentation. A review

Interest in the development of bioprocesses for the production or extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources has increased in recent years due to the potential applications of these compounds in food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. In this context, solid-state fermentation (SSF) has received great attention because this bioprocess has potential to successfully convert inexpensive agro-industrial residues, as well as plants, in a great variety of valuable compounds, including bioactive phenolic compounds. The aim of this review, after presenting general aspects about bioactive compounds and SSF systems, is to focus on the production and extraction of bioactive phenolic compounds from natural sources by SSF. The characteristics of SSF systems and variables that affect the product formation by this process, as well as the variety of substrates and microorganisms that can be used in SSF for the production of bioactive phenolic compounds are reviewed and discussed.     

Quantification of noncyclooxygenase derived prostanoids as a marker of oxidative stress

Recently, we discovered there is a unique class of prostaglandin F2-like compounds that are formed in vitro from arachidonoyl-containing lipids in plasma by a free radical-catalyzed mechanism. More recent studies have elucidated that these prostanoids are also produced in vivo in humans by a similar noncyclooxygenase mechanism. Levels of these PGF2 compounds detected by a mass spectrometric assay in normal human plasma and urine range from approximately 5-50 pg/mL and 500-3000 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. Circulating levels of the compounds were shown to increase by as much as 200-fold in animal models of free radical-induced lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that quantification of these prostanoids may provide a new approach to assess oxidative stress in vivo in humans. Potential advantages of this approach are that the mass spectrometric assay has a high degree of sensitivity, accuracy, and specificity and the assay can be used to quantitate these compounds in a variety of biological fluids. In addition, quantification of these compounds is of interest because these compounds possess biological activity. Disadvantages of the assay are the potential of ex vivo formation of these compounds in biological fluids containing lipids and, further, these compounds must be differentiated from PGF2 compounds that are formed via the cyclooxygenase enzyme. In addition, because the levels of these compounds in normal human plasma and urine are relatively high, assaying these compounds in circulating plasma and urine may be somewhat insensitive for the detection of increased production at isolated sites of oxidant injury within the body, in which case sampling near localized sites of their formation may be required.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Just-in-time purification: an effective solution for cherry-picking and purifying active compounds from large legacy libraries

Many companies possess a compound collection consisting of purified compounds and of unpurified products from combinatorial libraries. Using commercial and proprietary compounds as examples, this report provides clear examples of the significant impact purification can have on the activity observed for a compound and highlights the need to retest the purified compounds prior to creating structure-activity relationships. Crude mixtures made with commercial compounds led to an increase in the number of false positives in the SXR-GAL4 assay as compared with their pure and purified counterparts. An examination of proprietary compounds in an HIV assay resulted in the purification of 61 active crude synthetic mixtures. Of these 61 compounds, 32 were 5-fold less active and 2 were 5-fold more active after purification. This report details a semiautomated process developed and implemented for cherry-picking, tracking, and selectively purifying compounds found active in high-throughput screening campaigns.     

Phytodegradation of organic compounds

The phytodegradation of organic compounds can take place inside the plant or within the rhizosphere of the plant. Many different compounds and classes of compounds can be removed from the environment by this method, including solvents in groundwater, petroleum and aromatic compounds in soils, and volatile compounds in the air. Although still a relatively new area of research, there are many laboratories studying the underlying science necessary for a wide range of applications for plant-based remediation of organic contaminants.     

Secondary metabolites of plants from the genus Saussurea: chemistry and biological activity

The Asteraceae family comprises ca. 1000 genera, mainly distributed in Asia and Europe. Saussurea DC., as the largest subgenus of this family, comprises ca. 400 species worldwide, of which ca. 300 species occur in China. Most plants in China grow wild in the alpine zone of the Qingzang Plateau and adjacent regions at elevations of 4000 m. Plants of the genus Saussurea (Asteraceae) are used in both traditional Chinese folk medicine and Tibet folklore medicine, since they are efficacious in relieving internal heat or fever, harmonizing menstruation, invigorating blood circulation, stopping bleeding, alleviating pain, increasing energy, and curing rheumatic arthritis. A large number of biologically active compounds have been isolated from this genus. This review shows the chemotaxonomy of these compounds (215 compounds) such as sesquiterpenoids (101 compounds), flavonoids (19 compounds), phytosterols (15 compounds), triterpenoids (25 compounds), lignans (32 compounds), phenolics (23 compounds), and chlorophylls (11 compounds). Biological activities (anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti‐ulcer, cholagogic, immunosuppressive, spasmolytic, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antifeedant, CNS depressant, antioxidant, etc.) of these compounds, including structure–activity relationships, are also discussed.