Syntheses of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol and (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol, lepidoptera pheromone components, via zinc reduction of enyne precursors. test of pheromone efficacy against the Siberian moth.

Efficient syntheses of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol, a pheromone component of the Siberian moth, Dendrolimus superans sibiricus, and (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol, a pheromone component of various Lepidoptera pheromones, were accomplished by cis reduction of the corresponding enynols with activated zinc. The most energetic reagent was zinc galvanized with copper and silver (Zn/Cu/Ag) that achieved rapid and high-yield reduction in methanol-water. The stereoselectivity of semi-hydrogenation was > or =98%. A process whereby zinc dust was continuously activated throughout the reduction with an acid was also satisfactory (95-98% cis). Field evaluation of the 1:1 mixture of (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienol and (Z,E)-5,7-dodecadienal with the Siberian moth in Russia showed that the rubber septa pretreated with compound and stored at -80 degrees C were as effective as freshly treated septa. Moth responses to septa aged in open air indicated that lure effectiveness declined significantly after 2 weeks of aging. Thus, if rubber septa are used as pheromone dispensers in Siberian moth traps monitoring, they should be replaced biweekly with fresh septa for optimal trap effectiveness.

Assessment of DNA damage and repair in adults consuming allyl isothiocyanate or Brassica vegetables.

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is a dietary component with possible anticancer effects, though much information about AITC and cancer has been obtained from cell studies. To investigate the effect of AITC on DNA integrity in vivo, a crossover study was conducted. Adults (n=46) consumed AITC, AITC-rich vegetables [mustard and cabbage (M/C)] or a control treatment with a controlled diet for 10 days each. On day 11, volunteers provided blood and urine before and after consuming treatments. Volunteers were characterized for genotype for GSTM1 and GSTT1 (glutathione S-transferases) and XPD (DNA repair). DNA integrity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was assessed by single-cell gel electrophoresis. Urine was analyzed for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and creatinine. Ten-day intake of neither AITC nor M/C resulted in statistically significant differences in DNA strand breaks [least squares mean (LSmean) % DNA in tail±S.E.M.: 4.8±0.6 for control, 5.7±0.7 for AITC, 5.3±0.6 for M/C] or urinary 8-oxodG (LSmean µg 8-oxodG/g creatinine±S.E.M.: 2.95±0.09 for control, 2.88±0.09 for AITC, 3.06±0.09 for M/C). Both AITC and M/C increased DNA strand breaks 3 h postconsumption (LSmean % DNA in tail±S.E.M.: 3.2±0.7 for control, 8.3±1.7 for AITC, 8.0±1.7 for M/C), and this difference disappeared at 6 h (4.2±0.9 for control, 5.7±1.2 for AITC, 5.5±1.2 for M/C). Genotypes for GSTM1, GSTT1 and XPD were not associated with treatment effects. In summary, DNA damage appeared to be induced in the short term by AITC and AITC-rich products, but that damage disappeared quickly, and neither AITC nor AITC-rich products affected DNA base excision repair.