Novel DPPH Radical Scavengers,Demethylbisorbibutenolide and Trichopyrone,from a Fungus

In our screening program for antioxidants with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activity, two novel compounds, demethylbisorbibutenolide (1) and trichopyrone (2), were isolated from the fermentation broth of the fungus of USF-4860 strain isolated from a soil sample. The structures of these compounds were determined from spectroscopic evidence. The biosynthetic origin of the carbon atoms of 2 was unambiguously determined by feeding experiments using ¹³C-labeled precursors and elucidation of the ¹³C-NMR spectrum of ¹³C-labeled 2. These studies showed that 2 was derived from five acetates and a methyl group of methionine. In the DPPH-radical scavenging assay, 1 and 2 gave ED₅₀ values of 149 and 167 μM after standing for 2.0 hr. Compound 2 reacted with the DPPH radical to form reaction product 3 which was determined to be 1-[4-(3,4-dihydro-3-methyl-6-{1,3-pentadienyl}-2,4-dioxo-2H-pyran-3-yl)-phenyl]-1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazine from spectroscopic evidence.     

Studies on the 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl Radical Scavenging Mechanism for a 2-Pyrone Compound

The radical scavenging mechanisms for the 2-pyrone compound, 4-hydroxy-3,6-dimethyl-2H-pyrane-2-one (1), and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical (4) in several solvent systems were evaluated by the quantitative change in compounds detected at 270 nm and subsequent HPLC analyses. The HPLC profile for each condition suggested that the reaction proceeded by a different mechanism in each solvent system. In organic solvents (CHCl₃, iso-propanol, and EtOH), 1- [4-(3,4-dihydro-3,6-dimethyl-2,4-dioxo-2H-pyran-3-yl) phenyl]-1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (2) was produced as an adduct of the DPPH radical and 1. On the other hand, the reaction in a buffer solution (an acetate buffer at pH 5.5) gave several degradation products with 1-[4-(2,3-dihydro-2,5-dimethyl-3-oxo-fur-2-yl) phenyl]-1-phenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (5), this being structurally elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. The decrease of the DPPH radical in each reaction system suggests that compound 1 could scavenge about 1.5-1.8 equivalents of the radical in organic solvents and about 3.5-3.9 in the buffer solution.     

Identification of the reduced primary electron acceptor of Photosystem II as a bound semiquinone anion

The complete absorption difference spectrum of the primary electron acceptor of Photosystem II has been measured at room temperature in subchloroplast fragments prepared with deoxycholate. The shape and amplitude of the spectrum indicate that the primary reaction involves the reduction of one bound plastoquinone molecule per reaction center to its semiquinone anion. In addition two small absorbance band shifts occur near 545 (C550) and 685 nm, which may be due to an influence of the semiquinone on the absorption spectrum of a reaction center pigment.     

2-Ketogluconate Reductase Inhibition by Oxalate

The active site of α-glucosidase from Mucor javanicus IFO 4570 was investigated by kinetic studies. Competition between maltose and soluble starch, and linearity of Lineweaver-Burk plots for the mixed substrates were observed. The dependence of the apparent maximum velocities agreed with those predicted for a single active site mechanism. These results suggest that the enzyme hydrolyzes maltose and soluble starch at a single active site.     

Synthesis of Lipophilic Poly-Lauroyl-(+)-Catechins and Radical-Scavenging Activity

Lipophilic catechins were synthesized to improve absorption into living bodies and obtain new antioxidants effective in lipid bilayers. The hydroxyl (OH) groups of (+)-catechin was acylated randomly using lauroyl chloride. The mixture was separated by preparative HPLC, and 3-lauroyl-, 3′,4′-dilauroyl- and 3,3′,4′-trilauroyl-catechins (3-LC, 3′,4′-LC, and 3,3′,4′-LC) were obtained, their structures being determined by ¹H NMR. Their radical scavenging activity was measured in a ethanol solution using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, and was compared with that of (+)-catechin. The activity of 3-LC was almost same as that of (+)-catechin, but those of 3′,4′-LC and 3,3′,4′-LC were small, showing that the blocking of phenolic OH groups in the B ring lowered the activity. The scavenging activity on lipophilic radicals in a liposome system was also measured, and the activities were in the order of 3-LC > 3′,4′-LC = (+)-catechin. These results suggested that radical scavenging activity in the lipid membrane depended not only on the number and the relative positions of phenolic OH groups of catechins but also on affinity to the membrane.     

拟细羽束梗孢发酵菌丝体中自由基清除活性成分分析

用二苯基苦基苯肼(DPPH)自由基法,首次对拟细羽束梗孢(Isaria gracilioides RCEF3 279)菌丝体的不同溶剂提取物进行了自由基清除活性的定性定量分析,发现其甲醇提取物具有较强的清除自由基活性,当菌丝浓度为10 g/L时,其甲醇提取物的自由基清除率达到了92.4％±0.3％.DPPH自显影-薄层...     

一种被毛孢(Hirsutella sp.)培养液中自由基清除剂的分析、分离和制备

[目的]在一次对虫生真菌代谢物进行大规模的清除自由基活性物质筛选中,发现一种被毛孢(Hirsutella sp.)菌株RCEF0881发酵液中存在有较强的清除自由基活性物质.本研究目的是初步搞清这些活性成分的具体组成,并制备出一定量的纯品用于进一步的结构鉴定.[方法]用有机溶剂法提取活性成分;用二苯基苦基苯肼自由基(DPPH)酶标仪法和薄层色谱法进行活性测定;用高分辨液质联用方法进行活性成分初步分析和鉴定;用反相制备色谱法制备活性组分.[结果]提取实验结果表明具清除自由基活性的物质能较好地被乙酸乙酯提取出来;液相色谱-质谱-活性测定分析表明提取物中活性组分的可能分子式分别为C7H6O4、C8H8O3和C12H14N2O.结合色谱特性、紫外光谱特征、质谱碎片和数据库查询可初步推断它们分别为二羟基苯甲酸、羟基甲基苯甲酸和生物碱类物质,但具体结构还有待于进一步确认.从高效液相色谱和质谱离子流的峰面积可知上述3种活性物质中C12H14N2O的含量最高.本研究成功地用反相制备色谱制备出该天然活性组分的纯品.该3种清除自由基活性物质都是首次发现存在于虫生真菌的代谢物中.     

Effects of membrane-stabilizing agents,cholesterol and cepharanthin,on radiation-induced lipid peroxidation and permeability in liposomes

Effects of two membrane-stabilizing agents, cholesterol and cepharanthin, on radiation-induced lipid peroxidation and membrane permeability were examined. Radiation-induced lipid peroxidation caused an increase in membrane permeability in phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The presence of cholesterol in liposomal membranes caused a decrease in the degree of membrane permeability in spite of an increased lipid peroxidation. On the other hand, cepharanthin suppressed both lipid peroxidation and the changes in permeability induced by radiation. The membrane-stabilizing effect of cholesterol against radiation-induced changes in permeability seemed to depend on the rigidification of membranes, which was estimated by ESR studies. Cepharanthin suppressed the degree of membrane permeability mainly by inhibiting the radiation-induced lipid peroxidation. However, cepharanthin did not exhibit a radical-trapping ability.     

Seasonal, populational and ontogenic variation in the volatile oil content and composition of individuals of Origanum vulgare subsp. Hirtum, assessed by GC headspace analysis and by SPME sampling of individual oil glands

Small-scale GC headspace analyses combined with SPME sampling of individual oil glands have been used to measure the variation in volatile content and composition in and within different oregano plants as affected by age, season and developmental state. The main monoterpenes found were p-cymene, carvacrol and their precursor gamma-terpinene. The early season preponderance of p-cymene over carvacrol was reversed as the season progressed and this pattern could also be seen at any time within the plant, from the latest leaves to be produced (low in cymene) to the earliest (high in cymene). Seedlings from the same mother plant developed this pattern at different rates. Within individual leaves the pattern was not observed, even within the youngest developing leaves. However it was found that the oil composition of individual glands within a single leaf varied considerably, most notably in respect of the production of carvacrol and its isomer thymol.     

亚热带一些常见木本油料树种鲜叶提取物清除自由基的活性初探

用二苯基苦基苯肼自由基酶标仪法,对亚热带常见的90余种油料树种鲜叶80％甲醇提取物的自由基清除活性进行了比较,发现所有树种提取物的自由基清除率都随浓度的增加和随着37℃下孵育时间的延长而增大。其中,苦茶槭、金缕梅、黄连木、茶、三角枫、黄山栾树、山麻杆、红瑞木、槛木、秀丽槭、算盘子、木蜡树、油茶、米心水青冈、乌柏、栾树和山茶等树叶提取物在相当于鲜叶浓度O．5mg／mL时,37℃下孵育20min后的自由基清除率分别达96．7％、93．2％、9o．6％、87．5％、86．4％、85．O％、84．3％、82．1％、80．8％、77．1％、74．5％、72．5％、72．3％、68．7％、63．8％、62．O％和61．7％。这些树种有较大的开发潜力。     

色钉菇子实体化学成分及其生物活性初探

从色钉菇Chroogomphus rutilus子实体中分离纯化出11种化合物,经核磁等方法鉴定为：（1）麦角甾-7,22-二烯-3-酮;（2）麦角甾-4,6,8(14), 22-四烯-3-酮;（3）邻苯二甲酸二丁酯;（4）顺式-3-己烯醇;（5）3β,5α,6β-三羟基麦角甾-7,22-二烯;（6）α-甜没药醇;（7）2-甲氧基腺嘌呤核苷;（8）(4E,8E)-2-N-(2-羟基棕榈酰)-1-O-B-D-吡喃葡萄糖基-9-甲基-4, 8-sphingadienine;（9）5-羟基尿嘧啶核苷;（10）2-氨基-3-醛基-6-甲氧基吡啶;（11）Polyozellin。对分离化合物的体外抗氧化、抗肿瘤活性的初步测定结果显示,2-甲氧基腺嘌呤核苷、顺式-3-己烯醇表现出较强的清除DPPH自由基活性,EC50值分别为0.06128mg/mL和0.08253mg/mL。5-羟基尿嘧啶核苷对人胃癌细胞株BGC的增殖有较强的抑制作用,IC50值为7.92μg/mL。研究结果为进一步开发利用色钉菇提供了科学依据。     

Congruence of Phytochemical and Morphological Profiles along an Altitudinal Gradient in Origanum vulgare ssp. vulgare from Venetian Region (NE Italy)

Plants of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. vulgare from the Veneto region (NE Italy) were selected to study the variability of the essential‐oil composition from leaves and inflorescences throughout an elevation gradient. We investigated also the morphology of non‐glandular and glandular trichomes, their distribution on the vegetative and reproductive organs, as well as the histochemistry of the secreted products, with special focus on the terpenoidic fraction. Since glandular trichomes are prerequisite for the essential‐oil synthesis, the second objective was to establish whether its production is related to glandular hair number, and density. Essential‐oil contents decline with increasing altitude, and the micromorphological observations revealed a decrease in trichome density along the same direction. Moreover, GC/MS analysis together with principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the three investigated populations were significantly different in chemical composition. Therefore, an important interpopulation variability for low‐, mid‐, and high‐altitude sites was established, suggesting the likely occurrence of different biotypes associated with altitudinal levels. Hence, the involvement of abiotic factors such as temperature and drought in the chemical polymorphism of O. vulgare associated with elevation is briefly discussed.     

Waterlogging tolerance in the tribe Triticeae: the adventitious roots of Critesion marinum have a relatively high porosity and a barrier to radial oxygen loss

Nine species from the tribe Triticeae – three crop, three pasture and three ‘wild’ wetland species – were evaluated for tolerance to growth in stagnant deoxygenated nutrient solution and also for traits that enhance longitudinal O₂ movement within the roots. Critesion marinum (syn. Hordeum marinum) was the only species evaluated that had a strong barrier to radial O₂ loss (ROL) in the basal regions of its adventitious roots. Barriers to ROL have previously been documented in roots of several wetland species, although not in any close relatives of dryland crop species. Moreover, the porosity in adventitious roots of C. marinum was relatively high: 14% and 25% in plants grown in aerated and stagnant solutions, respectively. The porosity of C. marinum roots in the aerated solution was 1·8–5·4‐fold greater, and in the stagnant solution 1·2–2·8‐fold greater, than in the eight other species when grown under the same conditions. These traits presumably contributed to C. marinum having a 1·4–3 times greater adventitious root length than the other species when grown in deoxygenated stagnant nutrient solution or in waterlogged soil. The length of the adventitious roots and ROL profiles of C. marinum grown in waterlogged soil were comparable to those of the extremely waterlogging‐tolerant species Echinochloa crus‐galli L. (P. Beauv.). The superior tolerance of C. marinum, as compared to Hordeum vulgare (the closest cultivated relative), was confirmed in pots of soil waterlogged for 21 d; H. vulgare suffered severe reductions in shoot and adventitious root dry mass (81% and 67%, respectively), whereas C. marinum shoot mass was only reduced by 38% and adventitious root mass was not affected.     

水淹对杨树木材提取物清除DPPH有机自由基活性影响初探

以生长在长江滩地三种类型(江滩、洲滩、湖滩)上、三种水淹状况下2个品系的人工林杨树木材(欧美杨无性系72杨、美洲黑杨无性系69杨)木材为研究对象,用二苯基苦基苯肼自由基(DPPH)酶标仪法,对其80%甲醇提取物的自由基清除活性进行了比较,发现相同立地上杨树边材和心材提取物的自由基清除活性存在显著差异;且边材提取物的自由基清除活性普遍较高.不同立地上杨树心材提取物的自由基清除活性差异不显著;但边材提取物的自由基清除活性存在较大的差异,其中水淹深度为1 m和3 m的杨树边材提取物自由基清除活性差异达到极显著水平.相关性分析表明,心材提取物的IC50与水淹深度呈显著的负相关,边材提取物的IC50与水淹深度呈极显著的正相关.     

S-Sulfocysteine as a Source of the Sulfur Atom of Cephalosporin C

S. lignicolum acid proteinases A-1, A-2, and B (S-PI-insensitive) were examined for the structure of the active sites by the method of Nakatani using PAD as a probe. We attempted to screen for substances that release zinc(II)-PAD from the complex of zinc(II)-PAD-S-PI-insensitive acid proteinases. Angiotensin I released zinc(II)-PAD from the complex as well as from the complex of S-PI-sensitive acid proteinases. Angiotensin I is a good substrate for these enzymes regardless of S-PI-sensitivity. These results suggest that the two carboxyl groups capable of binding to zinc(II)-PAD are at the active site regions of S. lignicolum enzymes and that they are involved in their catalytic actions.     

The base of the leaf acts as a localized sink for photosynthate in mature barley leaves

The gradients in photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolism which persist within the fully expanded second leaf of barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) were examined. Although all regions of the leaf blade were green and photosynthetically active, the basal 5 cm, representing approximately 20% of the leaf area, retained some characteristics of sink tissue. The leaf blade distal from the leaf sheath exhibited characteristics typical of source tissue; the activities of sucrolytic enzymes (invertase and sucrose synthase) were relatively low, whilst that of sucrose phosphate synthase was high. These regions of the leaf accumulated sucrose throughout the photoperiod and starch only in the second half of the photoperiod whilst hexose sugars remained low. By contrast the leaf blade proximal to the leaf sheath retained relatively high activities of sucrolytic enzymes (especially soluble, acid invertase) whilst sucrose phosphate synthase activity was low. Glucose, as well as sucrose, accumulated throughout the photoperiod. Although starch accumulated in the second half of the photoperiod, a basal level of starch was present throughout the photoperiod, by contrast with the rest of the leaf. The ¹⁴CO₂ feeding experiments indicated that a constant amount of photosynthate was partitioned towards starch in this region of the leaf irrespective of irradiance. These findings are interpreted as the base of the leaf blade acting as a localized sink for carbohydrate as a result of sucrose hydrolysis by acid invertase.     

Correlations between Genetic,Morphological, and Chemical Diversities in a Germplasm Collection of the Medicinal Plant Origanum vulgare L.

In total, 42 accessions of Origanum vulgare L., mostly originating from Europe, were evaluated, to detect molecular, quantitative morphological, and chemotype polymorphisms and to discover possible correlations between them. Twelve traits related to morphological characteristics were measured. The components in the essential oils were identified by GC/MS analysis, and the oil contents of 18 major compounds were determined. A total of 477 molecular polymorphisms including 214 AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) and 263 SAMPL (selectively amplified microsatellite polymorphic loci) were used for genotyping. Euclidean distances of morphological and chemotypic data and genetic distances (1 – Dice's similarity) of molecular markers were compared by applying Mantel tests to ascertain the congruencies between them. A relatively high correlation between chemotypic patterns and genetic markers was identified, while a lower correlation was found between the morphological and genetic matrices. Pairwise analyses of correlation among all traits showed that the stem diameter was correlated to the essential‐oil yield and the carvacrol content. Cluster analysis, population inference, and principal component analysis revealed a broad genetic and chemical variation among the accessions. The knowledge of these diversities, found in this study, will allow a plant improvement of Origanum vulgare related to pharmaceutical and spice uses.     

The existence of a high photochemical turnover rate at the reaction centers of System II in Tris-washed chloroplasts

In Tris-washed chloroplasts the kinetics of the primary electron acceptor X 320 of reaction center II has been investigated by fast repetitive flash spectroscopy with a time resolution of $\text{≈ 1 μs}$. It has been found that X 320 is reduced by a flash in $\text{? 1 μs}$. The subsequent reoxidation in the dark occurs mainly by a reaction with a 100–200 μs kinetics. The light-induced difference spectrum confirms X 320 to be the reactive species. From these results it is concluded that in Tris-washed chloroplasts the reaction centers of System II are characterized by a high photochemical turnover rate mediated either via rapid direct charge recombination or via fast cyclic electron flow.     

Purification and Some Properties of a Protease from Streptomyces limosus

Streptomyces limosus was selected because it secreted a novel protease that catalyzed the synthetic reaction forming Pro-Pro-Pro from Pro-Pro. The protease was purified to an electrophoretically homogeneous state and an activity of more than about 20,000-fold that of the culture broth. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 50 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The enzyme was most active in alkaline pH for the synthetic reaction producing Pro-Pro-Pro from Pro-Pro, although for the hydrolytic reaction forming proline it was most active in neutral pH. The enzyme was inhibited by 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane (EPNP) and diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methyl ester (DAN). It can be considered that this enzyme belongs to the class of aspartic proteases. The substrate specificity indicates that this enzyme has a strong affinity for proline as a N-terminal amino acid of peptides.