Two novel dicarboxylic Acid derivatives and a new dimeric hydrolyzable tannin from walnuts

In addition to the 16 previously reported polyphenols including 3 new ellagitannins, 2 novel dicarboxylic acid derivatives, glansreginins A (1) and B (2), and a new dimeric hydrolyzable tannin, glansrin D (3), were isolated, together with 15 known compounds from walnuts, the seeds of Juglans regia. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses and chemical data. The antioxidant effect of these isolates was also evaluated by SOD-like and DPPH radical scavenging activities.     

Flonicamid, a novel insecticide with a rapid inhibitory effect on aphid feeding

Flonicamid (IKI220; N-cyanomethyl-4-trifluoromethylnicotinamide), a pyridinecarboxamide compound, is a novel systemic insecticide with selective activity against hemipterous pests, such as aphids and whiteflies, and thysanopterous pests. The purpose of this study is to clarify the biological properties of flonicamid against aphids. Flonicamid is very active against aphids, regardless of differences in species, stages and morphs. This compound inhibited the feeding behaviour of aphids within 0.5 h of treatment without noticeable poisoning symptoms such as convulsion, and this antifeeding activity was not recoverable until death. The nymphs born from adults exposed to flonicamid for 3 h showed high mortality. The effect of flonicamid on the feeding activity of an individual aphid was studied using electronic monitoring of insect feeding behaviour (EMIF). Although the treated aphid attached the head of its proboscis to the leaf surface, salivation and sap feeding were strongly inhibited. These results suggest that the main insecticidal mechanism of flonicamid is starvation based on the inhibition of stylet penetration to plant tissues.     

Structural identification of anthocyanins and analysis of concentrations during growth and flowering in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) petals

The anthocyanin profiles and variety/breeding-line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in petals of common buckwheat flowers have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were isolated from the petals of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), separated using high performance liquid chromatography and identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry techniques. In every variety/breeding line tested, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside was detected as the major anthocyanin and the next is cyanidin 3-O-glucoside whereas cyanidin 3-O-rhamnoside and cyanidin 3-O-galactosyl-rhamnoside were trace or not detectable in white and pink flowered buckwheat. Of all the varieties/breeding lines tested, Gan-Chao, a Chinese variety, contained the highest amount of anthocyanins. The largest part of cyanidin moiety was presented as a proanthocyanidin form (PAs-Cy). Anthocyanins and PAs-Cy in petals were increased along with increase of flower development stages. Therefore, fully developed petals of red flowered buckwheat, especially Gan-Chao, are promising as a new anthocyanin-rich material for food processing.     

Nitrogen isotope fractionation during nitrogen transport from ectomycorrhizal fungi,Suillus granulatus,to the host plant,Pinus densiflora

The ¹⁵N natural abundance in Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucco that had been inoculated and not inoculated with ectomycorrhizal fungi (Suillus granulatus (L.:Fr.) O. Kuntze) was compared. The inoculated pine needles showed a lower δ¹⁵N value, while the uninoculated ones showed a higher δ¹⁵N value. Higher δ¹⁵N values in the mycelial mat of the ectomycorrhizal fungi compared to those of the inoculated pine needles were also observed. These facts indicate that nitrogen isotope fractionation occurred during the nitrogen transport from mycorrhizal fungi to the host plants.     

Nephrocalcinosis formation by soy isoflavones in male rats

Isoflavones (IFs), found in the form of both aglycones and glucosides in soybean foods, induce weak estrogenic activities. Although IFs have a number of health benefits, it was previously reported that IFs cause nephrocalcinosis (NC) in the kidney of male Fischer 344 (F344) rats. The present study aims to elucidate the safety of IFs by focusing on IF-induced NC formation in rats. Fermented soybean extract (FSE) containing 420 mg/g isoflavone aglycones was orally administered to male F344 and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for 28 days. FSE induced NC formation in the kidney of F344 rats, but not in SD rats. However, absorption of IFs did not differ between F344 and SD rats. NC formation and its severity of FSE were histologically compared with those of soybean extract (SE) containing 518 mg/g isoflavone glucosides in F344 rats. There were no differences in the number of NC formations and the extent of calcium deposit between FSE and SE groups. To examine the dose effect of FSE on NC formation, doses of 20, 140, or 1000 mg/kg FSE were administered to F344 rats for 90 days. NC formation was observed in the 140 and 1000 mg/kg groups. These results indicated that a high dose of oral administration of IFs induced NC formation depending on the strain of rat.     

Effect of nitrogen deposition on CH4 uptake in forest soils in Hokkaido,Japan

Abstract

It has been well documented by short-term artificial experiments that the CH⁴ uptake is inhibited by N input, especially NH^{4 p+}-N input. To investigate the effect of the natural N input by throughfall and other factors on the CH⁴ uptake in forest soils, we measured the CH⁴ uptake rates for 6 months during the snow-free period of the year and N input by throughfall throughout the year at 10 sites in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1997 to 2002. Water filled pore space (WFPS) and pH values in the soils varied widely among the sites (38-93% and 3.9-6.2, respectively). The rates of NH^{4 p+}-N and NH^{3 p-}-N inputs ranged from 1.3 to 6.9 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1 and from 0.8 to 2.9 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1, respectively. The NH^{4 p+}-N input was generally higher than the NH^{3 p-}-N input. Total N input by throughfall amounted to 2.3-9.4 kg N ha^p-1 year^p-1. The highest CH⁴ uptake rate occurred within the period from July to September (41-215 μg CH⁴ m^p-2 h^p-1) each year at most sites. CH⁴ uptake rate was relatively low (~50 μg CH⁴ M-2 h^p-1) at northern sites, while a high CH⁴ uptake rate was observed throughout the year 100 (? CH⁴ m^p-2 h^p-1) at southern sites. The mean CH⁴ uptake rates were significantly different among the sites. Cumulative CH⁴ uptake ranged from 1.4 to 6.6 kg CH⁴ ha^p-1 [184 d]^p-1 with a mean values of 3.22 ± 1.36 kg CH⁴ ha^p-1 [184 d]^p-1. Cumulative CH⁴ uptake increased with increasing temperature and decreased with an increase in precipitation (Rain), NH^{4 p+}-N input (TF^NH4) WFPS, soil total C (TC), and total N (TN). There was a quadratic relationship between the CH⁴ uptake and NH^{3 p-}-N input (TF^NO3), soil pH, and C / N ratio in soil. A regression equation was obtained as follows to predict the CH⁴ uptake in forest soils: Cumulative CH⁴ uptake = 0.47 / Rain + 0.38 / TF^NH4 + 0.34 / TC - 0.30 / TF^N03 (R ^p2 = 0.74, p = 0.0001). This equation indicates that atmospheric N input into forest soils is one of the main factors that control cumulative CH⁴ uptake with precipitation, total carbon content in soil in Hokkaido, Japan.     

Urinary free metanephrines measurement in dogs with adrenal gland diseases using a new simple liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method

Measurement of urinary metanephrines in spot samples is used for the diagnosis of canine pheochromocytoma (PC). We describe a simple analytical method based on liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for measuring free metanephrine (MN) and normetanephrine (NMN) in spot urine samples. Using the developed method, we evaluated the stability of urinary free-MN and free-NMN at various storing conditions. In addition, we assessed the feasibility of urinary free-MN and -NMN measurement for diagnosing PC. Urine samples were mixed with stable isotope internal standards and thereafter purified by ultrafiltration. The purified samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS in the multiple reaction monitoring mode after separation on a multimode octa decyl silyl column. The coefficient of variation of free-MN and -NMN measurement was 7.6% and 5.5%, respectively. The linearity range was 0.5–10 µg/l for both analytes. Degradation was less than 10% for both analytes under any of the storage conditions. The median free-NMN ratio to creatinine of 9 PC dogs (595, range 144–47,961) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of 13 dogs with hypercortisolism (125, range 52–224) or 15 healthy dogs (85, range 50–117). The developed method is simple and may not require acidification of spot urine. The results of this preliminary retrospective study suggest that the measurement of urinary free metanephrines is a promising tool for diagnosing canine PC.     

Antibacterial Activities of a New Brominated Diterpene from Borneon Laurencia spp

In our continuous interest to study the diversity of halogenated metabolites of Malaysian species of the red algal genus Laurencia, we examined the chemical composition of five populations of unrecorded Laurencia sp. A new brominated diterpene, 10-acetoxyangasiol (1), and four other known metabolites, aplysidiol (2), cupalaurenol (3), 1-methyl-2,3,5-tribromoindole (4), and chamigrane epoxide (5), were isolated and identified. Isolated metabolites exhibited potent antibacterial activities against clinical bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio cholerae.     

Dehydroeffusol Rescues Amyloid β25–35-Induced Spatial Working Memory Deficit

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides produced from the amyloid precursor protein, a transmembrane protein, are neurotoxic and blocking the neurotoxicity may lead to...