Ganoderic acid Df,a new triterpenoid with aldose reductase inhibitory activity from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum

Ganoderic acid Df, a new lanostane-type triterpenoid, was isolated from the fruiting body of Ganoderma lucidum. Its structure was characterized as 7β, 11β-dihydroxy-3, 15, 23-trioxo-5α-lanosta-8-en-26-oic acid by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra. This compound exhibited potent human aldose reductase inhibitory activity, with an IC₅₀ of 22.8 μM in vitro. A carboxyl group of this compound's side chain is essential for eliciting inhibitory activity because its methyl ester is much less active.     

Stereospecificity of hydroxyl group at C-20 in antiproliferative action of ginsenoside Rh2 on prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer is the fifth most common neoplasm worldwide, and the second most common cancer among men. Ginsenosides, the main component of ginseng, have been known for their medicinal effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of ginsenosides (ginsenoside 20(R)-Rh2 and ginsenoside 20(S)-Rh2) on prostate cancer cells in vitro. Only ginsenoside 20(S)-Rh2 showed proliferation inhibition on androgen-dependent and -independent prostate cancer cells. These results implied that the stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group at C-20 may play an important role in antitumor activities.     

Extractable sugar contents of trunks from fruiting and nonfruiting oil palms of different ages

Oil palm trunks (OPTs) are a potential source of sugars for bioethanol production, and so we determined the glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents of hot water extracts from OPTs. Samples of OPTs were obtained from different regions of the trunk, from trunks of palms of different ages (31-, 19-, and 15-year-old), and from fruiting and nonfruiting palms. The extractable sugar contents of the whole OPT and the upper and lower regions of each OPT were calculated. Our results indicated that the upper parts of OPTs should be used for bioethanol production because they yield higher concentrations of sugars than the lower parts do. To produce a highly concentrated glucose solution for bioethanol production, OPTs should be harvested as soon as production of palm oil has been completed and when new male flowers have appeared. If these suggestions are followed, then the estimated ethanol concentration after fermentation is 3.2% and the estimated ethanol production per harvested area is 3.5 kl/ha.     

Incorporation of phosphate-32P into phospholipids by illuminated chloroplasts

Most of leaf lipids localize in the chloroplasts and are particulary concentrated in the lamellae in which photophosphorylation is performed (1). Using animal mitochondria, GARBUS et al (2), Galliard and Hawthorne (3) studied the incorporation of ³²Pi into lipids. Their results suggest that initial rapid incorporation of ³²Pi occurred with the phosphatidyl inositols.     

A glucosylceramide with antimicrobial activity from the edible mushroom <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurotus citrinopileatus</Emphasis>

The golden oyster mushroom Pleurotus citrinopileatus is a popular edible mushroom with multifunctional biological activities, but there are a limited number of previous studies on its chemical composition. This is the first report of the isolation of glucosylceramide with antimicrobial activity from the fruiting body of this mushroom. This compound was identified as 1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexadecanoylamino]-9-methyl-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol. The IC₅₀ value of this compound for the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was 275.1 μM (200 μg/ml) and 323.2 μM (235 μg/ml), respectively.     

Specific detection of a basidiomycete, Phlebia brevispora associated with butt rot of Chamaecyparis obtusa, by PCR-based analysis

In order to monitor the basidiomycetous fungus Phlebia brevispora isolated from butt rot of Chamaecyparis obtusa (Japanese cypress) in 1997 in Nagasaki Prefecture, a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed to specifically detect the fungus on-site. A species-specific primer for P. brevispora was derived from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (containing 5.8S ribosomal DNA, ITS1 and ITS2) sequences of the fungus. The PCR assay was able to detect down to 1fg DNA (per 1µl PCR reaction mixture) and down to 0.2mg mycelium of P. brevispora (per 1g of decayed wood). The samples for on-site monitoring were collected in 2002 from the decayed tree stump in which P. brevispora had first been isolated. From the decayed tree tissue, P. brevispora could be detected by PCR assay even when its mycelium could not isolated from the tree tissue by culturing. This indicates that the PCR amplification using the specific primer developed here is a useful method for monitoring P. brevispora on-site.     

Sex discrimination of cultured greater amberjack Seriola dumerili using steroid hormones

Fisheries Science - The aquaculture of greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is of considerable research interest worldwide. The larviculture methods employed to culture this species, however, are...     

Cytotoxic Effects of Fucoidan Nanoparticles against Osteosarcoma

In this study, we analyzed the size-dependent bioactivities of fucoidan by comparing the cytotoxic effects of native fucoidan and fucoidan lipid nanoparticles on osteosarcoma in vitro and in vivo. In vitro experiments indicated that nanoparticle fucoidan induced apoptosis of an osteosarcoma cell line more efficiently than native fucoidan. The more potent effects of nanoparticle fucoidan, relative to native fucoidan, were confirmed in vivo using a xenograft osteosarcoma model. Caco-2 cell transport studies showed that permeation of nanoparticle fucoidan was higher than native fucoidan. The higher bioactivity and superior bioavailability of nanoparticle fucoidan could potentially be utilized to develop novel therapies for osteosarcoma.     

Antibacterial compounds from shoot skins of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens)

Bamboo is intricately associated with human activity, and its usefulness is well known. For example, its roots and leaves have been used as medicinal products. Also, studies on the medicinal properties of bamboo leaves have shown antioxidant, anticancer, and antibiotic properties. In this study, we determined that the dichloromethane soluble of the methanol extract from the bamboo shoot skin (Phyllostachys pubescens) inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. The active constituents were isolated and identified as stigmasterol and dihydrobrassicasterol by NMR and mass spectrometry. These compounds inhibited the growth of S. aureus and Escherichia coli. Also, from the standpoint of structure–activity relationships, the activities of these phytosterols depend on their side chain structures. These findings indicate that the extracts of bamboo shoot skins as well as its active compounds in the skins are potentially useful as antibacterial materials.