Antioxidant,anti-amylase and anti-glycation potential of brans of some Sri Lankan traditional and improved rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties

Brans of 23 traditional and 12 improved (both red and white) rice varieties in Sri Lanka were screened for anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities in vitro. Varieties which showed the highest inhibitory activities at screening were further investigated for anti-glucosidase and glycation reversing as anti-diabetic properties. The same varieties were studied for selected antioxidant properties. Significantly high anti-amylase and anti-glycation activities were observed for bran extracts of red varieties compared to white varieties at screening. Traditional red rice varieties, Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti, exhibited significant and dose dependent anti-amylase, anti-glycation and glycation reversing activities. These varieties also showed marked antioxidant properties. It is concluded that brans of Sri Lankan traditional red rice varieties Masuran, Sudu Heeneti, Dik Wee and Goda Heeneti may be potential food supplements for diabetes.     

商陆不同极性、根和茎提取物的抑菌性能分析

为探究商陆不同极性、部位提取物的抑菌性能,本实验分别从商陆根和茎中提取石油醚相、乙酸乙酯相、正丁醇相和水相4种不同极性的提取物,再采用滤纸片法测量提取物对大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）、金黄色葡萄球菌（Staphyloccocus aureus）、巨大芽孢杆菌（Bacillus megaterium）和副溶血弧菌（Vibrio parahaemolyt-icus）4种细菌的抑制性能。结果表明,部分商陆的提取物有一定的抑菌活性,如根正丁醇相对巨大芽孢杆菌和副溶血弧菌,茎水相对副溶血弧菌的抑菌圈在10mm以上,但总体上商陆的提取物的抑菌性能远不及头孢氨苄好。实验还发现商陆抑菌活性最强的物质大都存在于根中,且抑菌活性最强的物质大都存在于水和正丁醇这种极性较高的溶剂的提取物中,不同提取物对不同细菌的抑菌活性情况不一致。因此本研究结果可以为商陆提取物抑菌性能的进一步探索提供参考。     

水分胁迫下二甲亚砜对香蕉幼苗的生理效应

采用营养液水培法,研究不同浓度二甲亚砜（DMSO）对聚乙二醇胁迫下香蕉幼苗的生理效应。结果表明,在10%PEG-6000 胁迫下,香蕉叶片的可溶糖含量、可溶性蛋白质含量、质膜透性、丙二醛含量和脯氨酸含量均显著增加,根系活力和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性显著升高。0.1%~0.4%DMSO 处理缓解水分胁迫引起的膜脂过氧化,抑制水分胁迫下香蕉苗叶片丙二醛含量上升,降低脯氨酸和可溶性蛋白质含量,降低根系活力。0.4%DMSO 处理香蕉叶片质膜透性和丙二醛含量比胁迫对照分别下降24.8%和25.2%,根系活力比胁迫对照下降22.8%。     

耐受自身代谢产物及耐二甲基亚砜红霉素高产菌株的选育

为提高红霉素发酵单位,考察了二甲基亚砜(DMSO)添加时间和体积分数对红霉素合成的影响,采用筛选自身代谢产物突变株的方法,将突变株进行常压室温等离子体(ARTP)诱变和耐受高浓度DMSO处理。结果显示,在36 h向发酵瓶中添加30000μg/m L红霉素,筛选得到化学效价比对照提高22.4%的菌株。DMSO最适添加时间为发酵48 h,最适添加剂量为0.2%,其可提高发酵单位10.1%。     

Activities of biotransformation enzymes in pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) and their modulation by in vivo administration of mebendazole and flubendazole

Basal activities of certain pheasant hepatic and intestinal biotransformation enzymes and modulation of their activities by anthelmintics flubendazole (FLBZ) and mebendazole (MBZ) were investigated in subcellular fractions that were prepared from liver and small intestine of control and FLBZ or MBZ treated birds. Several oxidation, reduction and conjugation enzyme activities were assessed. In the liver, treatment of pheasants by FLBZ or MBZ caused very slight or no changes in monooxygenase activities and conjugation enzymes. More significative changes were detected in small intestine. Metyrapone and daunorubicin reductase activities were increased by both substances in the liver. This is the first evidence that certain benzimidazoles modulate reductases of carbonyl group. With respect to the relatively slight extent of the changes caused by FLBZ or MBZ we can assume that repeated administration of therapeutic doses of both FLBZ and MBZ has probably no serious influence on pheasant biotransformation enzyme system.     

DMSO对小麦种子发芽率及其幼苗素质影响的研究

以绵阳26及绵阳95-319为材料,研究了不同浓度的二甲基亚砜(DMSO)对小麦种子发芽率及其幼苗素质的影响.结果发现:适宜浓度(0.1%～0.5%)的DMSO处理小麦种子,可以提高种子发芽率、活力指数、地上部干重、地下部干重和根系活力等.     

Furazolidone induces the activity of microsomal enzymes that metabolize furazolidone in chickens

The nitrofuran antibacterial agent furazolidone (FZ) is still used in veterinary medicine in some countries in the Middle and Far East. The present study aimed to show the effect of FZ on the activity of microsomal enzymes that metabolize FZ, and to identify the enzyme that contributes to FZ metabolism in chickens. Wistar rats and White Leghorn chickens were administered FZ once a day for four consecutive days. FZ metabolism was accelerated by FZ administration in chickens, but not in rats. The elevation of FZ metabolism coincided with the induction of NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) activity in chickens, but such induction was not observed in rats. FZ metabolizing activities were inhibited in the presence of a CPR inhibitor (diphenylene iodonium chloride) but not by the addition of archetypal cytochrome P450 inhibitors (CO or n-octylamine). The preset study concluded that FZ accelerated its own metabolism in the chicken by induction of the activity of CPR.     

Hepatoprotective activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, against paraquat toxicity

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that is used in most countries without restriction. The cytotoxic action of paraquat is mediated by reactive radicals that are products of its metabolic reduction in cells. It has already been hypothesized that some angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (e.g., captopril and enalapril) could show antioxidant and radical scavenging activity through their structural thiol groups, increasing antioxidant enzymes production or nitric oxide synthesis. In this study the hepatoprotective effect of captopril and enalapril against paraquat induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity was evaluated in isolated rat hepatocyte. Subtoxic concentrations of captopril (0.2 mM) and enalapril (0.2 mM) significantly (p < 0.05) protected the hepatocytes against paraquat (2 mM) induced oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers including: cell lysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, lipid peroxidation, glutathione depletion, mitochondrial membrane potential decrease, lysosomal membrane oxidative damage and cellular proteolysis. Moreover, we showed that non-thiol enalapril acts as well as thiol containing captopril at inhibiting oxidative stress cytotoxicity markers. Finally, our results support the hypothesis that it is the increase in nitric oxide synthesis and not the presence of the thiol group that accounts for the antioxidant activity of ACE inhibitors.     

In vitro effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha on canine neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes: PMNs) are essential for the host defense against various infections and are often injurious to the host, causing inflammatory diseases where tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is suggested to play an important role. Since an effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis has not been studied, canine PMNs were stimulated with recombinant human (rh)TNF-alpha in the present study to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on canine PMN apoptosis. PMN apoptosis and function to produce ROS were assessed by flow cytometry. Delayed apoptosis was observed in the PMNs treated with rhTNF-alpha at 100 ng/ml, accompanied by retention of capability to produce ROS. However, PMN apoptosis was accelerated by rhTNF-alpha combined with cycloheximide. Therefore, it is indicated that TNF-alpha is able to activate anti- and pro-apoptotic pathways in PMNs and that the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by TNF-alpha requires protein synthesis in the PMNs.