Analysis of essential oil of Coridothymus capitatus (L.) and its antibacterial and antifungal activity

The water-distilled essential oil the leaves of Coridothymus capitatus were analyzed by GC/MS and also analyzed by direct thermal desorption GC/MS. Comparison was made between two analyses techniques. The essential oil consisted mainly of monoterpenes 98.9%, while oxygenated hydrocarbons were identified as 55.6 % and non-oxygenated hydrocarbons as 43.6%. As major components were found carvacrol (35.6%), p-cymene (21.0%), thymol (18.6%), gamma-terpinene (12.3%), alpha-terpinene (3.2%), beta-myrcene (3.0%) and alpha-thujene (1.3%) by hydrodistillation and by the GC/MS method. The direct thermal desorption GC/MS analysis also showed the same major components, namely carvacrol (51.6%), thymol (21.7%), p-cymene (9.7%) gamma-terpinene (8.2%), alpha-terpinene (1.64%). The essential oil of C. capitatus showed strong activity against S. aureus, P. vulgaris, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, K. pneumonia, B.     

Protective agent, erdosteine, against cisplatin-induced hepatic oxidant injury in rats

Cisplatin, one of the most active cytotoxic agents against cancer, has several toxicities. Hepatotoxicity is one of them occurred during high doses treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of erdosteine against cisplatin-induced liver injury through tissue oxidant/antioxidant parameters and light microscopic evaluation. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: control (n=5), cisplatin (10 mg/kg, n=6) and cisplatin+erdosteine (50 mg/kg/day oral erdosteine, n=8) groups. The rats were sacrificed at the 5th day of cisplatin treatment. The liver tissues were examined with light microscopy and oxidant/antioxidant biochemical parameters. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were increased in the cisplatin group in comparison with the control and cisplatin+erdosteine groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in MDA and NO levels between control and cisplatin+erdosteine groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were higher in cisplatin+erdosteine group than cisplatin group (p<0.05). However, the CAT and GSH-Px activities were significantly lower in cisplatin group than in control group (p<0.05). The light microscopic examination revealed that cytoplasmic changes especially around cells of central vein were observed in cisplatin group. Hepatocellular vacuolization was seen in these cells. In the cisplatin plus erdosteine group, a decrease in cytoplasmic changes with the hepatocytes and sinusoidal dilatations around cells of central vein were noticed in as compared to cisplatin group. In the light of microscopic and biochemical results, it was concluded that cisplatin-induced liver damage in high dose and erdosteine prevented this toxic side effect by the way of its antioxidant and radical scavenging effects. (Mol Cell Biochem 278: 79–84, 2005)     

Effects of shock waves on oxidative stress and some trace element levels of rat liver and diaphragm muscles

This study was designed to investigate whether the short-term extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) exposure to kidney produces an oxidative stress and a change in some trace element levels in liver and diaphragm muscles of rats. Twelve male Wistar albino rats were divided randomly into two groups, each consisting of six rats. The animals in the first group did not receive any treatment and served as control group. The right-side kidneys of animals in group 2 were treated with two-thousand 18 kV shock waves while anesthetized with 50 mg kg(-1) ketamine. The localization of the right kidney was achieved after contrast medium injection through a tail vein under fluoroscopy control. The animals were killed 72 h after the ESWL treatment, and liver and diaphragm muscles were harvested for the determination of tissue oxidative stress and trace element levels. Although the malondialdehyde level increased, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzyme activities decreased in the livers and diaphragm muscles of ESWL-treated rats. Although glutathione level increased in liver, it decreased in diaphragm muscles of ESWL-treated animals. Fe, Mg and Mn levels decreased, and Cu and Pb levels increased in the livers of ESWL-treated animals. Fe and Cu levels increased, and Mg, Pb, Mn and Zn levels decreased in the diaphragm muscles of ESWL-treated animals. It also causes a decrease or increase in many mineral levels in liver and diaphragm muscles, which is an undesirable condition for the normal physiological function of tissues.     

Complete genome sequence of the orange-red pigmented, radioresistant Deinococcus proteolyticus type strain (MRP(T))

Deinococcus proteolyticus (ex Kobatake et al. 1973) Brook and Murray 1981 is one of currently 47 species in the genus Deinococcus within the family Deinococcaceae. Strain MRP(T) was isolated from feces of Lama glama and possesses extreme radiation resistance, a trait is shares with various other species of the genus Deinococcus, with D. proteolyticus being resistant up to 1.5 Mrad of gamma radiation. Strain MRP(T) is of further interest for its carotenoid pigment. The genome presented here is only the fifth completed genome sequence of a member of the genus Deinococcus (and the forth type strain) to be published, and will hopefully contribute to a better understanding of how members of this genus adapted to high gamma- or UV ionizing-radiation. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 2,886,836 bp long genome with its four large plasmids of lengths 97 kbp, 132 kbp, 196 kbp and 315 kbp harbors 2,741 protein-coding and 58 RNA genes and is a part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project.     

Methylparaben induces malformations and alterations on apoptosis,oxidant–antioxidant status,ccnd1 and myca expressions in zebrafish embryos

Methylparabens (MP) are widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, pharmacy, and food industry. Although acute toxicity studies in animals indicated that parabens are not significantly toxic, the effects of chronic exposure under sublethal doses are still unknown and the number of related studies is limited. Our aim was to evaluate the effects of MP on the development of zebrafish embryos focusing on development, locomotor activity, oxidant–antioxidant status, apoptosis, and ccnd1 and myca expressions. The expressions of ccnd1 and myca were determined by RT‐PCR. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Apoptosis was determined using acridine orange staining. Locomotor activity was measured using touch‐evoked movement test. MP exposure increased malformations, LPO, apoptosis, ccnd1 and myca expressions, and decreased GST activities and NO levels compared with the control group. Our findings will lead to further understanding of the mechanism of MP toxicity, and merit further research.     

A new species of Lathyrus L.(Fabaceae) from Turkey

Lathyrus L.belongs to the tribe Fabeae within the Fabaceae (Leguminosae).It contains more than 200 taxa and has an almost worldwide distribution (Allkin et al.,1986).Tutin & Heywood ( 1981)reported,in Flora Europaea,that 54 species are known from the area.In Flora of Turkey,Davis (1970) stated that the genus is represented by 67 taxa at the species,subspecies,and variety level.However,the number of taxa known from Turkey has since increased to 75 (Davis et al.,1988;Günes & (O)zhatay,2000;Gen(c) & Sahin,2008;Gen(c),2009).     

Isolation of DNA for RAPD analysis from dry leaf material of some<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hesperis</Emphasis> L. specimens

An improved protocol for the isolation of DNA from dry material of someHesperis specimens is described. The isolated DNA is suitable for random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Different DNA extraction protocols were examined to determine which might yield DNA from dry leaf tissue ofHesperis specimens. The methods examined include the protocols with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) described by Doyle and Doyle (1987); sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) by Dellaporta et al. (1983); and CTAB and SDS, the modified minipreparation, by Dellaporta et al (1983). None of these procedures yielded DNA of suitable purity for RAPD assay. We established an improved procedure involving CTAB and enzymatic digestion of proteins and RNA. The recovery of DNA with an average yield of 25 mg/g of leaf material was possible with this procedure. RAPD bands, which could be used to distinguish amongHesperis specimens, were generated.