Studies on the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oil from Cyperus rotundus Linn.

The sesquiterpene caryophyllene in its alcohol form has been identified for the first time from the essential oil of the tubers of Cyperus rotundus Linn. The structure of the alcohol has been identified by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Bioefficacy of the oil and its hydrocarbon, ketonic and alcoholic fractions is reported for maize and mungbean.     

The effects of season and water availability on chemical composition,secondary metabolites and biological activity in plants

Plants react towards changes in their environment, which can be a result of biotic or abiotic activities. Numerous studies have investigated the effects of abiotic stress on plants, and how it affects the primary as well as secondary metabolism. Generally it is accepted that plants react to environmental stress by increasing secondary metabolites. This is however a very broad and simplified explanation and often inaccurate. Various examples are provided where plants react positively, and often negatively towards seasonal variation and water availability, resulting in a lowering of certain secondary metabolites concentration, while others are increased. Furthermore species differences, cultivars and interaction of other environmental factors such as temperature complicates a simple conclusion from the effect of stress on plants. The differential expression of genes in different species and in different metabolic pathways ensures a complex and very specific reaction of a plant to environmental stress. Overall the paper provides support for a complex and intricate response system which differs for each plant species, and could be explained by understanding and studying the different metabolic pathways responsible for secondary metabolite production.     

The chemical composition of nuclei and chromosomes isolated by the Langmuir trough technique

The pattern of staining for DNA, histone, and nonhistone protein has been studied in whole cells and in nuclei and chromosomes isolated by surface spreading. In whole interphase cells from bovine kidney tissue culture, nuclear staining for DNA and histones reveals numerous small, intensely stained clumps, surrounded by more diffusely stained material. Nuclei in whole cells stained for nonhistone proteins also contain intensely stained regions surrounded by diffuse stain. These intensely stained regions also stain for RNA, indicating that the regions contain nucleolar material. Electron microscopy of kidney cells confirms that multiple nucleoli are present. Kidney nuclei isolated by surface spreading show an even distribution of stain for DNA, histones, and nonhistone proteins, indicating that the surface forces disperse both condensed chromatin and nucleoli. DNA and protein staining was also studied in metaphase chromosomes from testes of the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus. Staining for DNA and histones in metaphase chromosomes is essentially the same in sections of fixed and embedded testes as in preparations isolated by surface spreading. However, striking differences are noted in the distribution of nonhistone proteins. In sections, nonhistone stain is concentrated in extrachromosomal areas; metaphase chromosomes do not stain for nonhistone proteins. Chromosomes isolated by surface spreading, however, stain intensely for nonhistone proteins. This suggests that nonhistone proteins are bound to the chromosomes as a contaminant during the isolation procedure. The relationship of these findings to current work with chromosomes isolated for electron microscopy is discussed.     

The biological characteristics of micromycetes isolated from fish roe

The fungi Aspergillus fumigatus Fres., and Fusarium sporotrichiella Bilai were studied for their effect on certain biochemical indices of two-year carp and spawn of grass carp under laboratory conditions. The intraperitoneal introduction of A. fumigatus in a dose of 5 and 20 min conidia per individual to two-year carp decreased significantly the protein level in blood serum, the decrease being more considerable with the introduction of the smaller dose of fungal conidia. Joint incubation of the grass carp spawn and F. sporotrichiella induced changes in the protein level, amylolytic and phosphate (acid phosphatase) activity in spawn. In that case the time of the fungus action on grass carp spawn was a decisive factor. Activity of certain hydrolytic enzymes in mycelium and conidia of A. fumigatus and F. sporotrichiella was determined. The amylolytic activity was not revealed in the checked samples. The proteolytic activity was established in all samples of fungi and culture liquid, the highest level being observed in mycelia and conidia of A. fumigatus. The alkaline and acid phosphatase activity was found in F. sporotrichiella: the acid phosphatase activity was higher in mycelium, the acid phosphatase one in the fungus conidia. The problem on the A. fumigatus ability to produce extracellular enzymes is under discussion.     

佛手挥发油特征化学成分群GC-MS研究

目的:分析6个不同产地佛手挥发油的化学成分,确定其特征化学指标成分群.方法:采用水蒸气蒸馏法提取佛手挥发油.运用气相色谱质谱联用技术(GC-MS),结合计算机检索对其化学成分进行分离和鉴定,得到其共有的特征性化学成分群,用色谱峰面积归一化法计算各组分的相对含量.结果:从广东、四川、金华、广西、安徽佛手的挥发油中鉴定16种共有特征成分,按保留时间的先后顺序分别为:α-水芹烯、α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、β-月桂烯、α-萜品油烯、邻伞花烃、柠檬烯、顺式-β-罗勒烯、反式-β-罗勒烯、γ-萜品烯、γ-萜品油烯、乙酸芳樟酯、顺式-水合桧烯、α-萜品醇、β-柠檬醛、α-柠檬醛,其占总峰面积的的比例大于82.9%;其中柠檬烯和γ-萜品烯是主要成分,两者峰面积占总峰面积的比例大于65%.结论:所建立的特征成分群能充分地袁征佛手挥发油化学组成,可以为佛手挥发油的质量评价提供参考.     

The prediction of the type of the biological activity of chemical compounds by using the methods of mathematical statistics

The shortcomings of available approaches to determination of the character of chemical compounds biological activity according to calculated, tabular and experimental parameters have been analyzed using statistic methods. Some ways of available algorithms improving are given.     

Chemical composition and biological activity of Laennecia schiedeana

The chemical study of Laennecia schiedeana afforded three sterols, five diterpenes, five flavonoids, three caffeoyl derivatives of quinic acid, and two triterpenes. Evaluation of the cytotoxic activity of the extracts and isolated metabolites showed that 15-methoxy-16-oxo-15,16H-strictic acid was the most active compound [(15.05 +/- 2.2) microg/mL against U-251 cells]. In antibacterial assays the acetonic extract of leaves was the only active extract exhibiting its highest effect against the multiresistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC 0.25 mg/mL). The anti-inflammatory activity observed was mild in the extracts and not relevant in the isolated compounds.     

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of Turkish propolis

The antibacterial activities of propolis samples have been examined in vitro, according to the principles accepted for the determination of a similar activity of antibiotics with the use of solid and liquid media. It has been found that propolis extracts showed antibacterial activity through a range of commonly encountered gram positive cocci (S. aureus, beta hem. Streptococus), but had weak activity against gram negative bacteria (E. coli, P. aeruginosa). GC/MS analysis showed that propolis samples contain a variety of chemical compounds including aromatic compounds, fatty acid esters and sesquiterpenes.     

Inhibins and activins: chemical properties and biological activity

The long-sought, nonsteroidal, gonadal inhibitor of the secretion of FSH has been isolated, characterized, and the primary structure in several species (human, porcine, bovine, murine) has been deduced. Inhibins are proteins consisting of two subunits (18-kDa alpha- and 14-kDa beta-subunits) linked by disulfide bridges and two forms of inhibins were observed in human, porcine, and murine, but only one in bovine. Each form of inhibin (A and B) has a common alpha-subunit, but a highly homologous, distinct beta-subunit (beta A and beta B). The beta-subunits and the alpha-subunit are linked to form inhibins A and B which exert an inhibitory effect on basal FSH secretion, but the dimer formed by either two beta A-subunits or two distinct beta A- and two beta B-subunits (homoactivin-A and activin, respectively) possess FSH-stimulating activity. Inhibin secreted in response to FSH from the pituitary originates primarily from the granulosa cells of the ovary and the Sertoli cells of the testes, thus demonstrating a reciprocal feedback relationship.     

Understanding interactive characteristics of bioelectricity generation and reductive decolorization using Proteus hauseri

This first-attempt study quantitatively explored interactive characteristics of bioelectricity generation and dye decolorization in air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using indigenous Proteus hauseri ZMd44. After approx. 15 cycles (30 days) acclimatization in dye-bearing cultures, P. hauseri could express its stable capability of simultaneous bioelectricity generation and color removal (SBP&CR) in MFCs. Evidently, appropriate acclimation strategy for formation of the electrochemically active anodic biofilm played a crucial role to enhance the performance of SBP&CR in MFCs. Gradually increased supplementations of C.I. reactive blue 160 resulted in progressively decreased decay rate of bioelectricity generation. That is, a dye decolorized in a faster rate would result in a lower capability for bioelectricity generation and vice versa. In addition, a reduced dye with less toxicity potency (e.g., 2-aminophenol) might work as a redox mediator of electron transport to anodic biofilm for bioelectricity generation in MFCs.