Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Two new diterpene derivatives from Euphorbia lunulata Bge and their anti-proliferative activities

A new ent-abietane-type diterpene lactone (1) and a new jatrophane-type diterpenoid (2), together with twelve known compounds including three diterpenes (3–5), five triterpenes (6–10) and four sterides (11–14) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Euphorbia lunulata Bge. The structure of compounds 1 and 2 was elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and the HR-ESI-MS data. The structure of compound 2 was further analyzed by an X-ray crystallographic study. The in vitro anti-proliferative activities against MCF-7 and NCI-H460 cell lines for compounds 1–5 (diterpene) were evaluated. The results showed marked activity for compound 1 against the two cell lines with the IC₅₀ values 19.5 (NCI-H460) and 18.6 (MCF-7) μM, while for cis-platinum (a positive cytotoxic control agent) 29.7 (NCI-H460) and 27.7 (MCF-7) μM. Compounds 2–5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities for the two cell lines with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 32.1 to 58.2 μM.     

响应曲面法优化桂枝中桂皮醛的超声提取工艺

采用响应曲面法建立Box-Behnken模型，优化桂枝中桂皮醛的超声提取工艺。以桂皮醛的得率为指标，通过单因素法考察料液比、提取温度、提取时间和超声功率对桂皮醛提取效果的影响。在此基础上，采用4因素3水平响应曲面法分析，确定桂枝中桂皮醛的最优提取工艺。结果表明:响应面法优化桂皮醛超声提取工艺的最适条件为提取温度58.69 °C、料液比1∶11.6、提取时间52.35 min、超声功率98.49 W、得出的模型预测值为 20.27 mg·g?1。在最佳提取条件下，桂皮醛的得率为20.04 mg·g?1，与预测值相近，二者相对偏差为0.09%。运用响应面法得到了提取桂皮醛的最优条件，表明此方法具有可行性和实用性。     

Diagnosis and Treatment of Anaplastic Mammary Carcinoma in a Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)

A 9-year-old female sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) was evaluated for a tissue mass near the marsupium. Ultrasonography identified a vascular mass originating from the right mammary gland. Fine-needle aspiration was suggestive of a malignant neoplasm. The glider was anesthetized and the tumor was removed, and this was followed by strontium-90 plesiotherapy to the tumor bed in an attempt to decrease local recurrence. Histopathology revealed an anaplastic mammary carcinoma. The glider was euthanized less than 14 days after the procedure owing to self-mutilation behavior of unknown etiology. This report is the first to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostics, therapeutics, and treatment response for a sugar glider with mammary neoplasia.     

Coumarinoids from the fruits of Micromelum falcatum

Four new compounds, microminutin B (1), microminutin C (2), micromarinate (3), and secomicromelin (4) as well as 17 known compounds were isolated from the fruits of Micromelum falcatum. All compounds were evaluated for antifungal activity against Pythium insidiosum using disc diffusion assay. P. insidiosum is a fungus-like microorganism for which antifungal agents now available are not effective. The results show that four compounds including secomicromelin (4), 7-methoxy-8-(4′-methyl-3′-furanyl)coumarin (10), micromarin B (17), and isomicromelin (19) could inhibit the mycelia growth of P. insidiosum.