Analgesic effects and mechanisms of anti-inflammation of taraxeren-3-one from Diospyros maritima in mice

This study investigated the analgesic effects of taraxeren-3-one, which is an ingredient from Diospyros maritima (DM), using the models of acetic acid-induced writhing response and the formalin test, and its anti-inflammatory effects using the model of λ-carrageenan (Carr)-induced paw edema. Treatment of male ICR mice with taraxeren-3-one inhibited the numbers of writhing response and formalin-induced pain in the late phase, significantly. In the anti-inflammatory test, taraxeren-3-one decreased paw edema at 4 and 5 h after Carr administration and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) in the liver tissue at 5 h after Carr injection. Taraxeren-3-one affects malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels from both the edema paw and serum at 5 h after Carr injection. Western blotting revealed that taraxeren-3-one decreased Carr-induced inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expressions. These anti-inflammatory mechanisms of taraxeren-3-one might be related to the decrease in the level of MDA in the edema paw via increasing the activities of SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH in the liver. Also, taraxeren-3-one could affect the production of NO and TNF-α and, therefore, affect the anti-inflammatory effects.     

Identification of benzophenone C-glucosides from mango tree leaves and their inhibitory effect on triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

A 70% ethanol-water extract from the leaves of Mangifera indica L. (Anacardiaceae) inhibited triglyceride (TG) accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells. From the active fraction, seven new benzophenone C-glycosides, foliamangiferosides A (1), A(1) (2), A(2) (3), B (4), C(1) (5), C(2) (6), and C(3) (7), together with five known compounds were isolated and the structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The effects of these compounds on TG and the free fatty acid level in 3T3-L1 cells were determined, and the structure-activity relationship was discussed. On the basis of the AMPK signaling pathway, several compounds were found to increase the AMPK enzyme expression and down-regulate lipogenic enzyme gene expression such as SREBP1c, FAS, and HSL.     

Yield enhancement and biofortification of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) grain with iron and zinc through foliar application of ferrous sulfate and urea

Abstract

This study investigated effects of iron (Fe) and nitrogen (N) foliar application on Fe and zinc (Zn) content in chickpea grain, grain yield, and protein content. Application of FeSO₄ at 0.5% at flowering?+?pod formation stages resulted in the highest Fe (73.50 and 75.34?mg Fe kg^?1 grain in first and second year) and Zn (35.08 and 34.21?mg Zn kg^?1 grain) content in grain followed by the application of FeSO₄ at 0.5% at flowering stage alone (68.27 and 69.97?mg Fe kg^?1 grain and 32.44 and 32.27?mg Zn kg^?1 grain) and control (54.63 and 55.69?mg Fe kg^?1 grain and 29.48 and 29.07?mg Zn kg^?1 grain). Urea spray at 2% at flowering as well as at flowering?+?pod formation stages also improved the Zn and Fe content in the grain. Combined use of Fe and urea improved the grain Fe and Zn content over sole application of Fe.     

Identification of thiosulfate- and sulfur-reducing bacteria unable to reduce sulfate in ricefield soils

Using peptides as energy sources, H₂ as electron donor, thiosulfate as electron acceptors, we isolated, from four ricefield soils originating from France and the Philippines, 52 strains of anaerobes, among which 18 reduced thiosulfate but not sulfate. These 18 strains were strict proteolytic asaccharolytic anaerobes producing H₂S when grown on thiosulfate + H₂. They exhibited the same restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) profile (11 restriction enzymes tested). Partial sequencing of the 16S rDNA showed that they belonged to the genus Clostridium and were phylogenetically related to C. subterminale. DNA–DNA hybridization of a representative strain with the closest C. subterminale strain (DSM 6970^T) yielded a value of 68.9%. Previous counts of thiosulfate reducers unable to reduce sulfate (TSRnSR) in ricefield soils, their identification as Clostridium strains, and the known ubiquity of this genus in such soils indicate that TSRnSR of the genus Clostridium may play a significant role in S cycling in some wetland soils.     

Removal of ferrous iron from field drainage waters by conifer bark

Iron ochre deposition in field drainage systems is produced as a result of chemical and microbiological oxidation of ferrous iron in soil solution to the insoluble ferric form. Conifer bark, from several plant species, will absorb ferrous iron from solution quickly and irreversibly, the bark changing colour from brown to blue in the process. This bark, unlike that from deciduous trees, contains only small quantities of soluble phenolic components so it does not create an environmental problem under field conditions. Trials carried out at a test farm, where bark was placed within nylon mesh sacks and incorporated into the drainage system, were very successful, and drainage pipes which had previously blocked twice yearly remained relatively free of ochre. The use of bark from conifers can offer an inexpensive method of ameliorating the problem of ochre formation without producing environmental pollution.     

Genotoxicity of glycidamide in comparison to 3-N-nitroso-oxazolidin-2-one

Acrylamide (AA) is generated by thermal processing of foods, depending on processing conditions and precursor availability. AA is not genotoxic by itself but becomes activated to its genotoxic metabolite glycidamide (GA) via epoxidation, mediated primarily by cytochrome P450 2E1. In the Comet assay in V79 cells and in human lymphocytes, GA induced DNA damage down to 300 microM concentration (4 h). After post-treatment with the DNA repair enzyme formamidopyrimidine-DNA-glycosylase (FPG), DNA damage became already detectable at 10 microM (4 h). By comparison, the N-nitroso compound 3- N-nitroso-oxazolidin-2-one (NOZ-2) is a much stronger genotoxic agent, significantly inducing DNA damage already at 15 min (3 microM). Post-treatment with FPG in this case did not enhance response. GA induced DNA damage in V79 cells rather slowly, with first response detectable at 4 h. The hPRT forward mutation test encompasses 5 days of expression time during which also repair can take place. GA-induced hPRT mutations only became detectable at concentrations of 800 microM and above. This is 80-fold higher than the lowest significant response to GA in the Comet assay (10 microM with FPG). In contrast, NOZ-2 was as effective in the hPRT test as in the Comet assay (3 microM). These results demonstrate substantial differences in the genotoxic potency of GA and NOZ-2. Whereas NOZ-2 is a pontent genotoxic mutagen, GA in comparison shows only low genotoxic and mutagenic potential, presumably as a result, at least in part, of preferential N7-G alkylation.     

Effects of ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid on tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz) soil environment

In brown tea soil, the effects of ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid on soil environment and tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntz) growth were examined by enzyme activity, microbe quantity, nutrients in rhizosphere soil, and the nutrients and dry matter weight in the tea plant. We found that the pH value in the brown soil was significantly decreased by ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid treatments, compared with the value in unfertilized control (CK) or sulfuric acid treatments. The acid phosphatase activities of 3 g kg^–1 ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L^–1 sulfuric acid were increased by 210.53%. Interestingly, the quantities of fungi were increased by 19.76% and the bacteria and actinomyces were decreased in the CK treatment. Specifically, the nitrogen and magnesium in rhizosphere soil and leaves were significantly increased by the low concentrations of ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L^–1 sulfuric acid, whereas the dry matter weight under 3 g kg^–1 ferrous sulfate with 0.05 mL L^–1 sulfuric acid was increased by 36.22% in the CK treatment. Thus, we concluded that ferrous sulfate with sulfuric acid affected not only the soil environment but also the growth of tea plants. Our results suggested that the concentration of ferrous sulfate at 3 g kg^–1 soil diluted in 0.05 mL L^–1 sulfuric acid could be considered a good soil conditioner to make a suitable soil environment for tea production.     

红树内生细菌AiL3菌株鉴定及其胞外抗菌活性物质特性

红树（Acanthus ilicifolius）内生细菌AiL3菌株通过形态学观察、生理生化特征测定及16S rDNA序列分析鉴定为解淀粉芽胞杆菌（Bacillus amyloliquefaciens）。菌株培养滤液经有机溶剂萃取和硫酸铵沉淀分析发现,硫酸铵沉淀物具有抑菌活性,说明AiL3菌株产生的抗菌活性物质可能是蛋白类物质。该蛋白粗提液对芒果炭疽病菌（Colletotrichum gloeosporioides）、黄瓜枯萎病菌（Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cucumerinum）等8种植物病原菌均有较强的拮抗作用;对芒果炭疽病菌菌丝生长和分生孢子萌发的EC50分别为9.32和5.81μg/mL,当提取物浓度为20.33μg/mL时,可导致芒果炭疽病菌分子孢子的消解。     

Suitability of the aluminon technique for measuring phytotoxic aluminum in solutions with varying sulfate concentrations

Abstract

Considerable uncertainty prevails concerning a suitable measure that can adequately describe Al phytotoxicity in nutrient and soil solutions. A study was conducted to evaluate the ability of a modified aluminon technique to discriminate between phytotoxic and non‐phytotoxic Al in solutions containing 80 μM Al with varying levels of CaSO₄(625 to 10000 μM), at two pH levels (4.2 and 4.8). The concentration of Al measured by the modified aluminon technique ranged from 18.3 to 77.7 μM,thereby indicating substantial polymerization in some of the solutions. The greatest amount of polymerization occurred at pH 4.8 in the presence of 625 μM CaSO₄. Increasing additions of CaSO₄resulted in an increase in predicted activity of AlSO₄ ⁺at both pH levels. However, with increasing addition of CaSO₄, the predicted activity of Al³⁺decreased at pH 4.2 or remained relatively constant at pH 4.8. The relationship between the sum of predicted activities of monomeric Al (Sa_{Al mono.}) in solution and tap root length of soybean [Glvcine max(L.) Merr.] cv. Lee was extremely poor, thereby indicating the inability of the modified aluminon technique to measure phytotoxic Al in solutions employed in the current study. This difficulty was due to failure of the modified aluminon technique to exclude lesser phytotoxic AlSO₄ ⁺species. The activity of Al³⁺was closely related to tap root length (R²= 0.865). The prediction of root length response to Al was further improved (R²= 0.899) by considering the solution Al index as: S[3a_A13+ + 2a_Al(OH)2+ + a_A1(OH)+]. There was a poor relationship between tap root length and the concentration of polymeric Al, thus suggesting the lower phytotoxicity of this component under the prevailing solution conditions.     

Effects of phosphogypsum or calcium sulfate on aluminon reactive aluminum in solutions at varying pH

Abstract

Growing evidence of positive crop responses to gypsum or phosphogypsum (PG) application in acid soils strongly support the use of these amendments as an ameliorant of subsoil acidity. Although gypsum improves Ca availability in subsoils, its role in alleviation of Al toxicity needs careful attention. In the current study, either PG, CaSO₄.2H₂O or CaCl₂.2H₂O was added (to supply 12 mM Ca) to solutions containing 40 μM Al at pH 4.1 + 0.1. Solution pH was gradually raised to 4.5, 4.8 and then to 5.3 at various time intervals during 25 d aging of the solutions at 25 + 1^OC.

Concentration of Al measured by aluminon method without preacidification and preheating, referred to as “reactive Al”; in this paper, was 16 μM in 2 g L^‐1PG solution without added Al. This accounted 38% of total soluble Al in PG solution. Addition of 2 g L^‐1PG to solution containing 40 μM Al, resulted in only 42% of total Al in solution present in forms reactive with aluminon. According to MINTEQ speciation model, Al in solution was present as an entirely complexed form with F^‐. An increase in solution pH up to 5.3 had no effect on measured concentration of reactive Al or predicted distribution of Al species.

Addition of CaSO₄.2H₂O to 40 μMAl solutions had no effect on the concentration of reactive Al within pH 4.1 ‐4.8, however, up to 62% of total Al was in a form complexed with SO₄ ^2‐, as predicted by MINTEQ model. The concentration of reactive Al decreased by 60% at pH 5.3. Addition of CaCl₂.2H₂O also had no effect on the concentration of reactive Al within pH 4.1 ‐ 4.8. Nearly 73 ‐ 94% of total Al was present in Al³⁺form. An increase in pH to 5.3, decreased the concentration of reactive Al by 27%. The results suggest that ion‐pairing of Al with F^‐would appear to be a possible mechanism for alleviation of Al toxicity by PG at pH range 4.1 ‐ 5.3. With regard to CaSO₄.2H₂O, at pH 4.1 ‐ 4.8 ion‐pairing with SO.₄ ^2‐appears to be possible mechanism for the alleviation of Al toxicity. In addition, at pH 5.3 a considerable decrease in reactive Al was evident which would further alleviate Al toxicity.     

alpha-Terpineol from hydration of crude sulfate turpentine oil

Hydration of alpha-pinene under various conditions was studied and compared with the literature. Optimal reaction conditions have been established for the hydration of alpha-pinene and crude turpentine oil in the absence of catalyst and using a low volume of acetone. A detailed reaction product analysis is reported. The main hydration product, alpha-terpineol, was obtained at a yield of 67 wt % of the initial alpha-pinene by reacting with 15% aqueous sulfuric acid and an excess of acetone in an oil bath heated to 80-85 degrees C over the course of 4 h. A progressive transformation of alpha-terpineol to 4-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1-methylcyclohexanol (1,8-terpine) takes place as the hydration time exceeds 4 h. A crude turpentine oil sample was also hydrated under conditions similar to those of alpha-pinene. The alpha-terpineol yield was 77 wt % of the initial alpha-pinene in the crude turpentine oil. The chemical analysis of the crude turpentine oil before and after hydration was carried out, and the distribution of the products was discussed.     

苏云金杆菌营养期杀虫蛋白vip3A-LS1基因的克隆与表达

从土壤中分离得到营养期对鳞翅目害虫高毒的Bt LS1菌株。分子检测菌株中存在营养期杀虫蛋白基因，进行了该基因的克隆表达。设计全长基因引物扩增得到了约2.3kb的靶片段；克隆序列分析证实为新Vip3A基因，命名为Vip3A-LS1，GenBank登录号DQ016968，Bt基因命名委员会命名为Vip3Aa22。该基因推导蛋白与其它已知同源蛋白8个氨基酸不同。构建vip3A-LS1基因的表达载体，SDS-PAGE检测约88kD目的蛋白大量表达；生物测定表明，胞内可溶性蛋白对棉铃虫和甜菜夜蛾活性最高。纯化蛋白对初孵棉铃虫和甜菜夜蛾的LC50分别为73.6和32.2µg/g。     

Kinetic and equilibrium constants of phytic acid and ferric and ferrous phytate derived from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Inositol phosphates are metabolically derived organic phosphates (P) that increasingly appear to be an important sink and source of P in the environment. Salts of myo-inositol hexakisdihydrogen phosphate (IHP) or more commonly phytate are the most common inositol phosphates in the environment. IHP resists acidic dephosphorylation and enzymatic dephosphorylation as ferric or ferrous IHP. Mobility of IHP iron complexes is potentially pH and redox responsive, making the time scale and environmental fate and transport of the P associated with the IHP of interest to the mass balance of phosphorus. Ferric and ferrous complexes of IHP were investigated by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( (1)H NMR) and enzymatic dephosphorylation. Ferrous IHP was found to form quickly and persist for a longer period then ferric IHP. Dissociation constants derived from (1)H NMR experiments of chemically exchanging systems at equilibrium were 1.11 and 1.19 and formation constants were 0.90 and 0.84 for ferric and ferrous IHP, respectively. The recovery of P from enzymatic dephosphorylation of ferric and ferrous IHP was consistent with the magnitude of the kinetic and equilibrium rate constants.     

Evolution of castalagin and vescalagin in ethanol solutions. Identification of new derivatives.

Brandies, cognac, armagnac, whiskeys, and rums are aged in oak barrels to improve their organoleptic properties. During this period, numerous compounds such as ellagitannins are extracted from the wood and can subsequently be transformed into new derivatives by chemical reactions. Model solutions of castalagin and vescalagin have been studied to determine the behavior of polyphenols in ethanol-water. Upon prolonged exposure to 40 and 70% (v/v) ethanol at room temperature, hemiketal derivatives containing ethoxy groups have been characterized by LC/MS and NMR. These compounds further evolve to afford the corresponding ketals. They have also been detected in the extracts of oak wood stored under similar conditions.     

Coupled diffusion and oxidation of ferrous iron in soils. I. Kinetics of oxygenation of ferrous iron in soil suspension

The kinetics of oxidation of iron in an aqueous suspension of a thoroughly reduced low-humus tropical rice paddy soil were followed by measuring the extractable ferrous iron in the whole suspension and in the solution. Three-quarters of the initial ferrous iron was oxidized rapidly (first-order rate constant = 9.2 × 10^?5 s^?1). The subsequent reaction was slow (first-order rate constant = 9.4 × 10^?7 S^?1) and was not studied in detail. The pH fell from 6.6 to 4.9 over the course of the fast reaction. In further experiments the rate of oxidation was followed at constant pH values in the range 6.5 to 4.5. It was concluded that the oxidation of adsorbed iron was much faster than solution iron, and that the adsorbed iron was oxidized at a rate that was nearly independent of the pH. During the reaction some ferrous iron is adsorbed on the ferric hydroxide formed. The proportion of the remaining ferrous iron adsorbed on ferric hydroxide rather than the original exchange surfaces was high at pH > 6.0 and low at pH < 5.0. The rate of oxidation of the ferrous iron was similar whether it was adsorbed on exchange sites or on the ferric hydroxide formed. Since the rate of oxidation of the iron adsorbed on ferric hydroxide was very much slower than that on ferric hydroxide formed in the absence of soil, it is suggested that the rate in soil may be controlled by diffusion of oxygen to the adsorption sites.     

The variation of ferrous iron content and soil profiles under flooded condition of rice field (Part 1)

Rice fields are kept under flooded condition during the growing period of rice plant for at least three months. Soil of rice fields therefore shows consequently remarkable differences as compared with that of upland fields. This may be understood as a kind of redoxy system. Many soil constituents suffer big changes during floodtime. One of the most important constituents is iron because of its abundance in soil and its color change.     

Identification and quantitation of 3-S-cysteinylglycinehexan-1-ol (Cysgly-3-MH) in Sauvignon blanc grape juice by HPLC-MS/MS

Precursors to varietal wine thiols are a key area of grape and wine research. Several such precursors, in the form of odorless conjugates, have been closely studied in recent years. A new conjugate has now been identified as 3-S-cysteinylglycinehexan-1-ol (Cysgly-3-MH), being the dipeptide intermediate between cysteine and glutathione precursors of tropical thiol 3-mercaptohexan-1-ol (3-MH). Authentic Cysgly-3-MH was produced via enzymatic transformation of the glutathione conjugate and used to verify the presence of both diastereomers of Cysgly-3-MH in Sauvignon blanc juice extracts. Cysgly-3-MH was added into our HPLC-MS/MS precursor method, and the validated method was used to quantify this new analyte in a selection of Sauvignon blanc juice extracts. Cysgly-3-MH was found in the highest concentrations (10-28.5 μg/L combined diastereomer total) in extracts from berries that had been machine-harvested and transported for 800 km in 12 h. This dipeptide conjugate was much less abundant than the glutathione and cysteine conjugates in the samples studied. On the basis of the results, the new cysteinylglycine conjugate of 3-MH seemingly has a short existence as an intermediate precursor, which may explain why it has not been identified as a natural juice component until now.     

鸡胸软骨硫酸软骨素的提取及分离纯化

为优化硫酸软骨素的提取工艺和初步分析其结构,采用中心组合设计和响应面分析优化鸡胸软骨硫酸软骨素的酶法提取工艺,三氯乙酸除蛋白质、乙醇沉淀以及柱色谱精细纯化得到高纯度硫酸软骨素,并采用高效凝胶过滤色谱判定其纯度,红外光谱和核磁共振初步分析其结构。结果表明,硫酸软骨素的最佳提取工艺参数为温度55.68℃,pH值为6.40,时间为3.85 h,葡萄糖醛酸和硫酸软骨素提取率分别达到9.82%和28.05%。高效凝胶过滤色谱分析其纯度为99.01%。红外光谱和核磁共振显示硫酸软骨素主要是4硫酸化软骨素。     

Some considerations on the washout of sulfate from stack plumes

A theoretical analysis of the contribution to rainwater sulfate concentration by precipitation scavenging of gaseous S0₂ and sulfate containing aerosols is presented. Aspects, such as the proper choice of mean raindrop diameter, are discussed in detail, and guidelines for their use are explored. Sample calculations are provided in which emissions from a hypothetical stack are considered as the source of the gaseous S0₂ and sulfate aerosol. The basic assumption of irreversible sorption behavior is discussed and utilized to obtain an upper limit to the resulting sulfate concentration. The effect of raindrop diameter on the sulfate concentration is not consistent. However, for a given drop diameter the sulfate concentration decreases as the precipitation rate increases. The sulfate concentration resulting from aerosol scavenging depends on the particle diameter and the precipitation rate. The sulfate concentration shows a maximum with respect to particle size; at moderate distances from the source, it is maximum for particles having aerodynamic equivalent diameter of about 5 to 10 gm.