The effect of the extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field on citric acid and cellulase production by Aspergillus niger using liquid Charles culture medium was studied during shake flask culture. The cellular suspension was exposed to a magnetic field (t = 4 h, B = 1 mT, and f = 50 Hz). The dependence of yield of citric acid ...

A new phenazine derivative named izumiphenazine D (1), together with three known metabolites, 1-hydroxyphenazine (2), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (3) and 6-hydroxyphenazine-1-carboxylic acid (4) has been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of culture of Streptomyces sp. IFM 11204. The structure of 1 was established via spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR ...

Leaves of Centella asiatica (Centella) were analysed for their triterpene composition and bioactivity such as collagen enhancement, antioxidant, anticellulite and UV protection capacity properties. Triterpenes of Centella were measured using HPLC-PAD on an Excil ODS 5 mm (C18) column for the simultaneous determination of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside and ...

This study evaluated the in vitro antibacterial activity of conventional and experimental endodontic irrigants against Enterococcus faecalis. The following substances were evaluated by direct contact test: 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); 2% chlorhexidine (CHX); 1% peracetic acid. After different contact periods (30 s, 1, 3, and 10 min), a neutralizing agent ...

Pretreatment at different pHs was adopted in this study to enhance the substance solubilization and hydrogen production from kitchen wastes through anaerobic digestion. After a pretreatment set at pH = 13, solubilization of kitchen wastes improved substantially as the concentration of soluble carbohydrate, soluble protein, lipids and soluble chemical oxygen ...

Tigloylshikonin, a new shikonin derivative esterified with tiglic acid ((E)-2-methylbut-2-enoic acid), was isolated as a minor pigment from a food colorant "Shikon color," a commercial root extract from Lithospermum erythrorhizon SIEBOLD et ZUCCARINI. The structure of tigloylshikonin was elucidated using (1)H, (13)C, the difference nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE), and 2D ...

Bacterial production of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3), is constrained to a narrow subset of marine γ-proteobacteria. The genes responsible for de novo bacterial PUFA biosynthesis, designated pfaEABCD, encode large, multi-domain protein complexes akin to type I iterative ...

Prolactin (PRL)-releasing peptides (PrRP) have been identified in mammals, amphibians and fishes, and these animals have several PrRPs that consist of different numbers of amino acids such as 20, 31 and 37. In the present study, we identified the cDNA encoding chicken prepro-PrRP, which can generate putative PrRPs, and cloned ...

A peroxidase (PD-cP; 0.47 mg/100 g leaves) was purified from autumn leaves of Phytolacca dioica L. and characterized. PD-cP was obtained by acid precipitation followed by gel-filtration and cation exchange chromatography. Amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence of PD-cP up to residue 15 were similar to that of Spinacia oleracea ...

Shigella flexneri is endemic in most underdeveloped countries, causing diarrheal disease and dysentery among young children. In order to reach its target site, the colon, Shigella must overcome the acid environment of the stomach. Shigella is able to persist in this stressful environment and, because of this ability it can ...

Biotransformation studies conducted on (+)-(S)-ar-turmerone (1) and (+)-(S)-dihydro-ar-turmerone (2) by the fungus Aspergillus niger have revealed that 1 was metabolized to give four oxidized metabolites, (+)-(7S)-hydroxydehydro-ar-todomatuic acid (3), (+)-(7S,10E)-12-hydroxydehydro-ar-todomatuic acid (4), (+)-(7S,10E)-7,12-dihydroxydehydro-ar-todomatuic acid (5), and (+)-(7S)-15-carboxy-9,13-epoxy-7-hydroxy-9,13-dehydro-ar-curcumene (6), and (+)-(S)-dihydro-ar-turmerone (2) was metabolized to (+)-7,11-dihydroxy-ar-todomatuic acid (7). Metabolites 3-7 were characterized ...

Wine lactone (i.e., 3a,4,5,7a-tetrahydro-3,6-dimethylbenzofuran-2(3H)-one, 1a/1b) was formed hydrolytically at wine pH from both racemic (E)-2,6-dimethyl-6-hydroxyocta-2,7-dienoic acid (3) and the corresponding glucose ester 2a at 45 °C but at room temperature was only formed from the acid 3. The glucose ester does not appear to be a significant precursor for the ...

Farnesol (FOH) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH) with multiple biological actions are produced from the mevalonate pathway, and catabolized into farnesoic acid and geranylgeranoic acid, respectively, via the aldehyde intermediates (farnesal and geranylgeranial). We investigated the intracellular distribution, sequences and properties of the oxidoreductases responsible for the metabolic steps in rat tissues. ...

BACKGROUND: Apples are the most widely consumed fruits in Germany and various other countries. Positive health effects of apple-derived polyphenols in vivo depend on their absorption, metabolism, distribution, and elimination from the body after consumption. Data on the metabolism of these polyphenols in humans are scarce. In order to study ...

To enhance nutrient removal performance and reduce disposal amount of waste activated sludge (WAS), a pilot-scale continuous system consisting of a 2-step sludge alkaline fermentation process and an A(2)O reactor was proposed. The feasibility of WAS reducing and resourcing by alkaline fermentation was investigated. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) yield was ...

Differential metabolic responses to heat stress may be associated with variations in heat tolerance between cool-season (C(3) ) and warm-season (C(4) ) perennial grass species. The main objective of this study was to identify metabolites associated with differential heat tolerance between C(4) bermudagrass and C(3) Kentucky bluegrass by performing metabolite ...

The detection of relatively low concentrations of the biomarkers in experimentally prepared evaporitic matrices using a portable Raman instrument (Ahura First Defender XL equipped with a 785nm diode laser and fixed frontal probe) under Alpine conditions was tested. The instrument was able to detect nucleobases thymine (1673 and 984cm(-1)) and ...

Fatty acids (FAs) are essential components of lipids and exhibit important biological functions. The analyses of FAs are routinely carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after multistep sample preparation. In this study, several key experimental factors were carefully examined, validated, and optimized to analyze free fatty acid (FFA) and FA ...

Brevetoxins are neurotoxins produced by marine dinoflagellates, primarily Karenia brevis, and can cause intoxication and even mortality of marine species, affect human health through the consumption of brevetoxin-contaminated shellfish, and effect respiratory irritation through aerosol exposure at coastal areas. Brevetoxin-A and brevetoxin-B, the major brevetoxins produced in algae, are metabolized ...

A new sialidase-producing strain isolated from soil was identified as Oerskovia xanthineolytica YZ-2. Sialidase was produced when Oerskovia xanthineolytica YZ-2 was exposed to polysialogangliosides. The sialidase of Oerskovia xanthineolytica YZ-2 hydrolyzed sialic acid linkages in polysialogangliosides, and released monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1). The sialidase had the capability of product specificity because it ...

Effect of prey feeding (ants Formica fusca) on the quantitative changes in the accumulation of free amino acids, soluble proteins, phenolic metabolites and mineral nutrients in the leaves of carnivorous plant Drosera capensis was studied. Arginine was the most abundant compound in Drosera leaves, while proline was abundant in ants. ...

In order to mimic the natural cartilage extracellular matrix, which is composed of core proteins and glycosaminoglycans, a biological hydrogel was synthesized from the biopolymers hyaluronic acid (HA), chondroitin sulfate (CS) and gelatin via click chemistry. HA and CS were modified with 11-azido-3,6,9-trioxaundecan-1-amine (AA) and gelatin was modified with propiolic ...

The leucine metabolite, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), is a nutritional supplement that increases lean muscle and strength with exercise and in disease states. HMB is presently available as the Ca salt (CaHMB). The present study was designed to examine whether HMB in free acid gel form will improve HMB availability to tissues. ...

The photodegradation of the aryloxyphenoxy propionic herbicide cyhalofop-butyl (2R)-2-[4-(4-cyano-2-fluorophenoxy)phenoxy]butylpropanoate (CyB), and of its primary metabolite (2R)-2-[4-(4-cyano-2-fluorophenoxy)phenoxy]propanoic acid (CyA) was studied in water at different irradiation wavelengths. The sunlight irradiation was investigated also in the presence of humic acid (HA), Fe oxide, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) as photocatalysts. ...

Hair analysis is a powerful tool for retrospective drug analysis. By determining the minor ethanol metabolites ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) in hair, even a previous consumption of alcohol is detectable. However, previous studies showed a lack of correlation if both parameters are determined simultaneously. A ...

Anaerobic degradation processes play an important role in contaminated aquifers. To indicate active biodegradation processes signature metabolites can be used. In this study field samples from a high-resolution multilevel well in a tar oil-contaminated, anoxic aquifer were analyzed for metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. In ...

Coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may facilitate development of atherosclerosis by stimulating pro-inflammatory pathways in the vascular endothelium. Nutrition, including fish oil-derived long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6ω-3), can reduce inflammation and thus the risk of atherosclerosis. We tested the hypothesis that cyclopentenone metabolites produced by oxidation ...

The essential oils from aerial parts of Ferulago pachyloba (Fenzl) Boiss., F. platycarpa Boiss. & Bal., F. isaurica Penmen, and F. longistylis Boiss. (Apiaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The highest oil yield (1.50%) was obtained from F. pachyloba followed by F. longistylis (0.16%), F. ...

The chemical compositions of the essential oils from the peel of ripe and unripe fruits of Hymenaea courbaril L., obtained by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The main constituents of the essential oil from the peel of the ripe fruits were the sesquiterpenes alpha-copaene (11.1%), spathulenol (10.1%) and ...

Two new sphingolipids mucusamide (1) and mucusoside (2) have been isolated from methanol soluble part of the stem bark of Ficus mucuso WELW., together with fifteen known secondary metabolites including cellobiosylsterol (3), β-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), β-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), lupeol acetate (7), ursolic acid (8), procatechuic acid (9), 2-methyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone 8-C-β-D-glucoside ...

The present study describes preparation and characterization of a thermally stable and biodegradable biopolymer using collagen and a natural polymer, alginic acid (AA). Required concentration of alginic acid and collagen was optimized and the resulting biopolymer was characterized for, degree of cross-linking, mechanical strength, thermal stability, biocompatibility (toxicity) and biodegradability. ...

Fatty acid methyl ester was produced from used vegetable cooking oil using Mg(1-)(x) Zn(1+)(x)O(2) solid catalyst and the performance monitored in terms of ester content obtained. Used vegetable cooking oil was employed to reduce operation cost of biodiesel. The significant operating parameters which affect the overall yield of the process ...

Transformation products usually differ in environmental and toxicological properties compared to the parent contaminants, thus causing potential and unknown environmental risks. To elucidate differential chiral recognition of the aryloxypropanoate herbicide quizalofop ethyl (QE) and its primary product (quizalofop acid, QA), their enantiomeric separation and toxicological impacts to two freshwater algae ...

The full elucidation of the enzymatic mechanisms leading to polyunsaturated ω-3 to ω-5 fatty acids (PUFAs) occurring in plants or microorganisms by analyzing their site-specific isotopic fractionation profiles is a challenging task. Isotropic SNIF-NMR® method is an historical, powerful tool for the determination of ((2)H/(1)H) ratios. However, the absence of ...

Many neurotransmitters, such as γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), can act as chemical cues influencing settlement and metamorphosis in benthic marine invertebrates. This effect has been described especially in mollusks, such as mussels, clams, or haliotids. This study describes the first record of the effect of GABA on patellogastropod populations. Special ...

Bacterial production of long-chain fatty acids via a polyketide synthase-related mechanism has thus far only been investigated in isolate-based studies. Here, the genetic capacity for production of long-chain fatty acids was investigated using a culture-independent approach. PCR primers targeting the keto-acyl synthase (KS) domain of the pfaA gene involved in ...

Recent laboratory studies have demonstrated that isoprene oxidation products can partition to atmospheric aerosols by reacting with condensed phase sulfuric acid, forming low-volatility organosulfate compounds. We have identified organosulfate compounds in free tropospheric aerosols by single particle mass spectrometry during several airborne field campaigns. One of these organosulfates is identified ...

The effects of 2-aminoindane-2-phosphonic acid (AIP), a potent phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) inhibitor, on the accumulation of cadmium and nickel in chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) were examined in this study. In vitro assay of AIP effect showed a 90% reduction in PAL activity. In plants cultured for 7 days in Cd or ...

The feasibility of diluted nitric acid solutions for microwave-assisted decomposition of botanical samples in closed vessels was evaluated. Oxygen pressurized atmosphere was used to improve the digestion efficiency and Al, Ca, K, Fe, Mg and Na were determined in digests by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Efficiency ...

The effect of the extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field on citric acid and cellulase production by Aspergillus niger using liquid Charles culture medium was studied during shake flask culture. The cellular suspension was exposed to a magnetic field (t = 4 h, B = 1 mT, and f = 50 Hz). The dependence of yield of citric acid ...

Processed aconite drugs are widely used in Eastern medicine as painkillers and antirheumatic agents. It is known that the traditional processing of aconite drugs increases the amount of lipo-alkaloids. In order to obtain information about the pharmacological potential of these compounds, semisynthesis of 9 aconitine-derived lipo-alkaloids was carried out and ...

The chemical composition of European squid (Loligo vulgaris) mantles and tentacles and the lipid oxidation during frozen storage at three different temperatures (-20º, -40º and -80 °C) were investigated. The moisture, fat, protein and ash contents of tentacles were 80.72%, 1.44%, 16.16% and 1.63% while the same contents for mantle were ...

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) prepared by H(2)SO(4) hydrolysis have sulfate groups on their surface, which have negative implications for some CNC applications. In this study, two desulfation methods were evaluated, and the properties of desulfated CNCs were compared to those of unsulfated CNCs, prepared by HCl hydrolysis. H(2)SO(4)-hydrolyzed CNCs from softwood ...

The fermented tea vinegar combines the beneficial properties of tea and vinegar. The complete fermentation takes 4 to 5 weeks in a batch culture and thus can be shortened by semi continuous/ continuous fermentation using immobilized bacterial cells. In the present study, alcoholic fermentation of 1.0 and 1.5% tea infusions using ...

There has been no structural information about the core protein of salmon nasal cartilage proteoglycan although its physiological activities have been investigated. Internal amino acid sequencing using nano-LC/MS/MS revealed that the salmon proteoglycan was aggrecan. Primer walk sequencing based on the amino acid information determined that the salmon aggrecan cDNA ...

Lactococcus garvieae DCC43 produces a bacteriocin, garvicin ML (GarML), with a molecular mass of 6,004.2 Da. Data from de novo amino acid sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry and nucleotide sequencing by reverse genetics suggested that the bacteriocin is synthesized as a 63-amino-acid precursor with a 3-amino-acid leader peptide that is ...

From Mitrephora maingayi, a new C21-type Annonaceous acetogenin (1) has been isolated, along with a biogenetically related known compound, oropheic acid (2). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. The insecticidal activity of 1 was also assessed.

The kinetics of thermal degradation of ascorbic acid in fluted pumpkin leaves were investigated from 60 to 90°C (pH 5.0 to 6.5). Ascorbic acid degradation was modeled as a first order rate reaction with the rate constants increasing with increase in pH of the medium. The pH and temperature dependence ...

The purification and characterization of indolyl-3-acetaldoxime dehydratase produced by the plant fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is described. The substrate specificity indicates that it is an indolyl-3-acetaldoxime dehydratase (IAD, EC 4.99.1.6), which catalyzes transformation of indolyl-3-acetaldoxime to indolyl-3-acetonitrile. The enzyme showed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and had an apparent molecular mass of 44 ...

MOTIVATION: The article presents results of the listing of the quantity of amino acids, dipeptides and tripeptides for all proteins available in the UNIPROT-TREMBL database and the listing for selected species and enzymes. UNIPROT-TREMBL contains protein sequences associated with computationally generated annotations and large-scale functional characterization. Due to the distinct ...