Placenta--a source of biologically active substances

In the review there are some data displaying the scientific and patent literature presenting placenta as a rich source of some biologically active substances (BAS): proteins, lipids, enzymes, glycolipids and glycolipoproteins, hormones. This information is capable to be used while developing the techniques of BAS producing from placenta in order of creating the organospecific complex preparations with medically-preventive properties.     

Alternative sources of biologically active substances

The majority of antibiotics and substances with diverse biological activity used in medicine are produced by actinomycetes, nonfilamentous bacteria and fungi. Other microorganisms, such as myxobacteria, pseudomonads, nocardias, basidiomycetes, marine microorganisms, enterobacteria, halobacteria, hyperthermophiles etc. are investigated for new biologically active metabolites.     

Effect of biologically active substances on lymphocyte energetics studied by using a simple luminometer-ATP meter

A method of lymphocyte energetics investigation according to the ATP concentration in cell suspension has been described. A simple easily reproducible luminometer was applied for ATP measurement by luminescence of luciferin/luciferase system. The conditions of cell incubation were found when the changes in mitochondrial metabolic state reflected on ATP concentration. For all this rotenone (5 nM) decreases the ATP concentration heavily than inhibits the rate of oxygen consumption. Ecto-ATPases hydrolyze quickly the low concentrations of exogenous ATP. The examples given show the possibilities of this method for studying the effect of biologically active substances on cell energetics.     

Estimation of ROS in the presence of biologically active substances by porous silicon fluorescence

The fluorescence spectra of the porous silicon modified by water solutions of biologically active materials and materials of biological origin are recorded as well as the fluorescence spectra of the porous silicon modified by lecithin monolayers grown on the surface of water solutions of the biologically active materials. The analysis of the obtained spectra made it possible to conclude on the effect of the studied materials on the content of ROS.     

Receptor-based assays in screening for biologically active substances.

Molecular biology has identified new receptors and ligands which are deregulated in diseases such as cancer and autoimmune conditions and which provide rational targets for therapeutic intervention. Advances in instrumentation and methodology make it possible to screen large numbers of samples in simple receptor-ligand binding assays in the search for drug candidates. Caution must be exercised in the interpretation of data derived from such assays. This is particularly pertinent to the recently characterized receptors, such as the cytokine receptors, as we do not fully understand the relationship between the receptor type and the linkage of receptors to the appropriate or inappropriate second messenger systems that are used in the experimental screening protocols and the disease state.     

Quantitative NMR spectroscopy of biologically active substances and excipients

Biologically active ingredients and excipients are the essentials of a drug formulation, such as a tablet, dragee, solution, etc. Quality control of such substances thus plays a pivotal role in the production process of pharmaceutical drugs. Since these agents often exhibit complex structures, consist of multiple components, or lack of a chromophore, traditional means of characterization are often not feasible. Furthermore, substances of small molecular weight or strong polar character generally exhibit poor chromatographic properties, thus, conventional procedures such as high-performance liquid chromatography are often not applicable. Instead, quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy has emerged as an alternative or orthogonal method in drug analysis. In this review, we elaborate on the application of qNMR to three important classes of biological substances, namely polysaccharides, amino acids, and lipids, and demonstrate the benefits of this modern tool in contrast to traditional techniques.     

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules as the systems for delivery of biologically active substances

Based on the method of the layer-by-layer (LbL) adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes, sodium alginate (Alg) and poly-L-lysine (PLL), novel biodegradable microcapsules have been prepared for delivery of biological active substances (BAS). Porous spherical CaCO₃ microparticles were used as templates. The template cores were coated with several layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes forming shell on the core surface. The core-shell microparticles were converted into hollow microcapsules by means of core dissolution with EDTA. Mild conditions for microcapsules preparation allow to perform incorporation of various biomolecules maintaining their bioactivity. Biocompatibility and biodegradability of the polyelectrolytes give a possibility to use the microcapsules as the target delivery systems. Chymotrypsin entrapped into the microcapsules was used as a model enzyme. The immobilized enzyme retained about 86% of the activity compared to a native chymotrypsin. The resultant microcapsules were stable in acidic medium and could be easily decomposed by trypsin treatment in slightly alkaline medium. Chymotrypsin was shown to be active after its release from the microcapsules decomposed by the trypsin treatment. Thus, the microcapsules prepared by the LbL technique can be used for the development of new type of BAS delivery systems in humans and animals.     

Analysis of functional properties of biologically active substances using eukaryotic cell models (review)

This work presents an analysis of current data on the investigation into the functional properties of biologically active substances in model systems based on cultivated human cells. The knowledge regarding the practical application of cell cultures for the analysis of functional properties of bioactive substances is summarized, including antioxidant, immunomodulating, pro- and prebiotics, and chemoprevention properties. The most promising directions in cell culture model development for the investigation of functional properties, including three-dimensional models, are discussed.     

PASS: prediction of activity spectra for biologically active substances

The concept of the biological activity spectrum was introduced to describe the properties of biologically active substances. The PASS (prediction of activity spectra for substances) software product, which predicts more than 300 pharmacological effects and biochemical mechanisms on the basis of the structural formula of a substance, may be efficiently used to find new targets (mechanisms) for some ligands and, conversely, to reveal new ligands for some biological targets. We have developed a WWW interface for the PASS software. A WWW server for the on-line prediction of the biological activity spectra of substances has been constructed.     

Determination of the ionization potential and the electron affinity of various biologically active substances by polarography

The electron affinity and ionization potential of various biological substances were measured by polarography and compared with their effect on growth ofE. coli.This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, Grant GM 10383, the Josephine B. Crane Foundation, and the Thayer Lindsley Foundation.     

Formation of biologically active substances by rhizosphere bacteria and their effect on plant growth

Nine out of seventeen strains of bacteria with a pronounced effect on seed germination and on seedling growth, isolated from root surfaces and rhizosphere soil of maize, were selected for a study on the formation of biologically active substances. β-Indole acetic acid (45–72 μg/1.000 ml) was produced by four strains, gibberelline-like substances (1.0–60.0 μg/1.000ml) by all strains, biotin and pantothenic acid by the majority of strains and nicotinic acid by five strains. Amino acids were formed by all strains but in low amounts. Four strains produced growth inhibitors. The highest amounts of biologically active substances were found in cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescens andBacillus brevis. The various cultures ofPseudomonas fluorescens differed in their capability to produce biologically active substances. The majority of bacterial cultures or their supernatants significantly stimulated the germination of seeds and some of them significantly affected the growth of plants. Inoculation of maize seeds with strainsPseudomonas fluorescens andChromobacterium violaceum significantly increased the yield of dry matter of plants.