The ability of blackcurrant extracts to positively modulate key markers of gastrointestinal function in rats

An animal model was used to assess the effects of orally administered aqueous extract from two commercial health supplement ingredients; First Leaf (FL; composed of blackcurrant extract powder, lactoferrin and lutein and is developed by the Four Leaf Japan Co. Ltd, Japan) and Cassis Anthomix 30 (CAM30; blackcurrant extract powder which is developed by Just the Berries Ltd, New Zealand) on the proliferation of lactobacilli and bifidobacterial species and some undesirable bacteria in the caeca of rats. Gavaging rats with CAM30, FL or inulin three times weekly for 4 weeks resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of bifidobacteria and/or lactobacilli and a significant decrease in the numbers of bacteroides and clostridia. Moreover, rats gavaged with FL, CAM30 and inulin showed 31.5, 18 and 15% reduction in the activity of β-glucuronidase and 26, 30.4 and 18% increment in the activity of β-glucosidase when compared to the control group gavaged with water, respectively. These benefits may make these products good candidates as prebiotic agents. In conclusion, this study has shown that FL and CAM30 can positively modulate key markers of gastrointestinal function in rats.     

Changes of adenine nucleotides content and release reaction of human blood platelets following gamma irradiation

The aim of this work was to examine the effect of gamma irradiation on the energy metabolism and physiological functions of blood platelets. Blood platelets were irradiated with a 60Co-source in the range of 0.5--8.0 krad. Before and after irradiation, the free nucleotide content of platelets and the ability of platelets to perform their hemostatic functions (the release reaction with thrombin) were determined. The obtained results demonstrated that: 1. ATP, ADP and AMP content reached minimum values at 1.5--2.0 krad. 2. The ability of platelets to perform the release reaction correlates with the ATP level at doses of 1.5--2.0 krad. At higher doses (6.0--8.0) disturbances of the release reaction, indicating damage to the platelet plasma membranes, were observed.     

Chemical nature of the autoregulating factor d1 in Pseudomonas carboxydoflava

A chromatographically individual fraction with the biological activity of factor d1 was isolated from Pseudomonas carboxydoflava by the techniques of column and thin-layer chromatography. Alkyl hydroxybenzoles were shown to be the active principle of factor d1 inducing the transition of P. carboxydoflava vegetative cells into the hypometabolic or anabiotic state. As was found from the data of PMR, UV and IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography in combination with mass spectrometry, the active principle of factor d1 included alkylresorcins: 5-n-nonadecylresorcin and 5-n-heneicosylresorcin at a ratio of 1:3.