Spatial distribution, sources identification, and health risk assessment polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds and polychlorinated biphenyl compounds in total suspended particulates (TSP) in the air of South Pars Industrial region-Iran.

South Pars Industrial Energy Zone, located in the southwest of Iran along the Persian Gulf coast, encompasses many industrial units in the vicinity of urban areas. This research study investigated the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on human health and the environment. Suspended particulate matters (SPM) in the air sampled, in summer and winter 2019, from ten stations next to industrial units and residential areas. The samples were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Spatial distribution maps of pollutants in the region were prepared using GIS software. The highest carcinogenic risk due to PAHs and PCBs measured as ([Formula: see text]) and ([Formula: see text], respectively. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency limit ([Formula: see text]), the cancer risks from PAH compounds were significant and need further investigation. The PCB cancer risks were within acceptable ranges. The highest adsorption ratios for PAHs were obtained through skin and PCBs by ingestion. The maximum measured non-carcinogenic hazard indexes (HI) turned out to be 0.037 and 0.023 for PAH and PCB, respectively, and were reported as acceptable risks. The predominant source of PAH in industrial areas was liquid fossil combustion, and in urban areas replaced by coal-wood-sugarcane combustion. Petrochemical complexes, flares, power plants (69%), electric waste disposal sites, and commercial pigments (31%) were reported as PCB sources. Industries activities were the most effective factors in producing the highest level of carcinogenic compounds in the region, and it is necessary to include essential measures in the reform programs.

Network Pharmacology and Bioactive Equivalence Assessment Integrated Strategy Driven Q-markers Discovery for Da-Cheng-Qi Decoction to Attenuate Intestinal Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction (IO) is a kind of acute abdomen with high morbidity and mortality. Patients suffer from poor quality of life and tremendous financial pressure. Da-Cheng-Qi decoction (DCQD), a classical purgation prescription, has clinically been proven to be an effective treatment for IO. PURPOSE: Network pharmacology integrated with bioactive equivalence assessment was used to discover the quality marker (Q-marker) of DCQD against IO. METHODS: As there is hardly any targets recorded in database, thus the collection of IO targets was conducted by searching those of alternative diseases which have similar pathological symptoms with IO. In order to improve the reliability of the obtained targets, IO metabolomics data was introduced. Active compounds combination (ACC) was focused as potential Q-markers via component-target network analysis and function query from the identified components corresponding to the common targets. Bioequivalence between ACC and DCQD was assessed from the aspects of intestine motility (somatostatin secretion), inflammation (IL-6 secretion) and injury (wound healing assay) in vitro and was further validated in ileus rat model. PPI network analysis of core targets followed by gene pedigree classification and experimental validation confirmed the potential intervention pathway. RESULTS: A combination of 11 ingredients, including emodin, physcion, aloe-emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, gallic acid, magnolol, honokiol, naringenin, tangeretin, and nobiletin was finally confirmed bioequivalence with DQCD to some extent and could serve as Q-markers for DCQD to attenuate IO. PI3K/AKT was verified as a possible affected pathway that DCQD exerted the effectiveness against IO. CONCLUSION: For the disease with few recorded targets, searching those of alternative diseases which have similar pathological symptoms could be a feasible and effective approach. The proposed network pharmacology integrated bioactive equivalence evaluation paradigm is efficient to discover Q-marker of herbal formulae.

Dissipation behavior, residue distribution and dietary risk assessment of field-incurred boscalid and pyraclostrobin in grape and grape field soil via MWCNTs-based QuEChERS using an RRLC-QqQ-MS/MS technique.

A QuEChERS technique employing multi-walled carbon nanotubes was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in grape field samples using rapid resolution liquid chromatography triple- quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry. The validated method was successfully applied to determine the levels of residual boscalid and pyraclostrobin in soil and grapes. The dissipation behavior of each fungicide followed first-order kinetics, with a linear correlation coefficient of 0.995-0.998 at 95% confidence. The highest levels of boscalid and pyraclostrobin in grape, with a pre-harvest interval of 14 days and doses of 380-570 mg a.i. kg-1 in three or four applications, were 3.99 mg kg-1 and 0.792 mg kg-1, respectively. These are below the maximum residue limits for boscalid and pyraclostrobin in grape, as recommended by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. Risk quotients (RQs) of these pesticides were evaluated by comparing national estimated daily intake with acceptable daily intake. The results yielded RQs for boscalid and pyraclostrobin in grape of 54% and 31.7%, respectively, which suggest a low health risk to consumers.

Assessment of boscalid and pyraclostrobin disappearance and behavior following application of effective microorganisms on apples.

The aim of this study is to assess the disappearance of boscalid (IUPAC name: 2-chloro-N-[2-(4-chlorophenyl)phenyl]pyridine-3-carboxamide) and pyraclostrobin (IUPAC name: methyl N-[2-[[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yl]oxymethyl]phenyl]-N-methoxycarbamate) residues in apple fruit, and to verify whether an organic fertilizer enriched with strains of antagonistic microorganisms can reduce pesticide residue levels. Field trials were conducted in a commercial orchard on apples of the Gloster variety, during 21 days after the treatment with Bellis 38 WG and the subsequent application of Zumba Plant formulation containing Bacillus spp., Trichoderma spp. and Glomus spp. In control samples, the decrease rate of boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels followed an exponential function, described by formulae Rt = 0.2824e-0.071t and Rt = 0.1176e-0.060t, with the coefficient of determination of r2 = 0.8692 and r2 = 0.9268, respectively. These levels dropped to half (t1/2) of their initial values after 9.8 and 11.5 days, respectively. The treatment with Zumba Plant resulted in a reduction in boscalid and pyraclostrobin residue levels by 52% and 41%, respectively. The results of this study are of importance for horticulture sciences and for producers of apples using plant protection products (PPPs).

Dissipation behaviour and dietary risk assessment of boscalid, triflumizole and its metabolite (FM-6-1) in open-field cucumber based on QuEChERS using HPLC-MS/MS technique.

BACKGROUND: To resist plant diseases, boscalid and triflumizole have been applied to cucumbers frequently. However, the residue and dietary risk assessment of these fungicides in cucumber should be given attention for food safety. RESULTS: An effective and highly sensitive method based on the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry technique for simultaneous multidetermination of boscalid, triflumizole and its metabolite (FM-6-1) in a cucumber ecosystem was established and validated. Field experiments were conducted in three different locations, where boscalid and triflumizole (35% suspension concentration) were applied at 253 g of active ingredient (a.i.) per hectare (the recommended high dosage) and 379.5 g a.i. ha-1 (1.5 times the recommended high dosage) in each location. The limits of quantification and the limits of detection of the proposed method ranged from 0.01 to 0.05 mg kg-1 and 3.9 × 10-5 to 7.5 × 10-4 mg L-1 respectively. The mean recoveries and relative standard deviations of these compounds were 80-105% and 1.0-6.1% respectively. The dissipation dynamics of compounds followed pseudo-first-order kinetic models remarkably, with a half-value period of 2.3-40.8 days. The residues of boscalid and triflumizole in cucumber at harvest were below 0.66 mg kg-1 and 0.07 mg kg-1 respectively. The results of the dietary risk assessments have shown a low dietary risk of compounds in cucumber with hazard ratios <1 and hazard index <1. CONCLUSION: These results from the experiments are the most important for putting a guide on reasonable usage of these fungicides under the open-field conditions in China. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical and sensory differences between high price and low price extra virgin olive oils.

The aim of the study was to identify new potential chemical markers of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) quality by using a multicomponent analysis approach. Sixty-six EVOOs were purchased from the Italian market and classified according to their price as low price EVOOs (LEVOOs) and high price EVOOs (HEVOOs) costing 3.60-5.90euro/L and 7.49-29.80euro/L respectively. Sensory and chemical parameters strictly related to olive oil quality have been investigated, like volatile substances, polar phenolic substances, antioxidant activity, fatty acid composition, and α-tocopherol. Significant differences in terms of chemical composition and sensory features have been highlighted between the two EVOOs classes investigated, proving a generally lower level of quality of LEVOOs, clearly showed also by means of principal component analysis. Among the most interesting outcomes, R ratio (free tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol over total free and bound forms), measuring the extent of secoiridoids hydrolysis, resulted to be significantly higher in LEVOOs than in HEVOOs. Other key differences were found in the volatile substances composition, in the stearic acid percentage and in p-coumaric acid content.

Assessment of free radical scavenging and anti-proliferative activities of Tinospora cordifolia Miers (Willd).

BACKGROUND: Tinospora cordifolia (Guduchi or Amrita) is an important drug of Ayurvedic System of Medicine and found mention in various classical texts for the treatment of diseases such as jaundice, fever, diabetes, cancer and skin disease etc. In view of its traditional claims, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities were evaluated in the present study. METHODS: Ethanol extract (TCE) and subsequent petroleum ether (TCP), dichloromethane (TCD), n-Butanol (TCB) and aqueous (TCA) fractions of were prepared from stems of T cordifolia. Total phenolic, flavonoid content and anti-oxidant activity was assessed by different methods. Anti-proliferative activity was assessed in cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell lines by MTT and SRB assay. RESULTS: Ethanol extract and n-butanol fractions shown to be superior in their scavenging activity in all the tested methods. n-butanol fractions shown antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 14.81 ± 0.53, 29.48 ± 2.23, 58.20 ± 0.70 and 21.17 ± 1.19 µg/mL by DPPH, ABTS, Nitric oxide and iron chelating activities respectively. Anti-proliferative activity results demonstrates that the TCD and ethanol extract of T cordifolia exhibits potent cytotoxic effect against HeLa with an IC50 of 54.23 ± 0.94 µg/mL and 101.26 ± 1.42 µg/mL respectively by MTT assay; and with an IC50 of 48.91 ± 0.33 µg/mL and 87.93 ± 0.85 µg/mL respectively by SRB assay. CONCLUSION: The outcomes of the present study support the fact that T Cordifolia is a promising source of antioxidant agent and propose its further investigation. Moreover, dichloromethane fraction of T cordifolia shown to be the most potent anti-proliferative fraction and further mechanistic and phytochemical investigations are under way to identify the active principles.

A novel highly flexible, simple, rapid and low-cost fabrication tool for paper-based microfluidic devices (µPADs) using technical drawing pens and in-house formulated aqueous inks.

Paper-based microfluidic devices (µPADs) are capable of achieving rapid quantitative measurements of a variety of analytes inexpensively. µPADs rely on patterning hydrophilic-hydrophobic regions on a sheet of paper in order to create capillary channels within impermeable fluidic brakes on the paper. Here, we present a novel, highly flexible and low-cost fabrication method using a desktop digital craft plotter/cutter and technical drawing pens with tip size of 0.5 mm. The pens were used with either commercial black permanent ink for drawing fluidic brakes, or with specialty in-house formulated aqueous inks. With the permanent marker ink it was possible to create barriers on paper rapidly and in a variety of designs in a highly flexible manner. For instance, a design featuring eight reservoirs can be produced within 10 s for each µPAD with a consistent line width of brakes (%RSD < 1.5). Further, we investigated the optimal viscosity range of in-house formulated inks controlled with additions of poly(ethylene glycol). The viscosity was measured by capillary electrophoresis and the optimal viscosity was in the range of ∼3-6 mPa s. A functional test of these µPADs was conducted by the screening of antioxidant activity. Colorimetric measurements of flavonoid, phenolic compounds and DPPH free radical scavenging activity were carried out on µPADs. The results can be detected by the naked eye and simply quantified by using a camera phone and image analysis software. The fabrication method using technical drawing pens provides flexibility in the use of in-house formulated inks, short fabrication time, simplicity and low cost.

The influence of effective microorganisms (EM) and yeast on the degradation of strobilurins and carboxamides in leafy vegetables monitored by LC-MS/MS and health risk assessment.

The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of strobilurin and carbocyamides commonly used in chemical protection of lettuce depending on carefully selected effective microorganisms (EM) and yeast (Y). Additionally, the assessment of the chronic health risk during a 2-week experiment was performed. The statistical method for correlation of physico-chemical parameters and time of degradation for pesticides was applied. In this study, the concentration of azoxystrobin, boscalid, pyraclostrobin and iprodione using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in the matrix of lettuce plants was performed, and there was no case of concentration above maximum residues levels. Before harvest, four fungicides and their mixture with EM (1 % and 10 %) and/or yeast 5 % were applied. In our work, the mixtures of 1%EM + Y and 10%EM + Y both stimulated and inhibited the degradation of the tested active substances. Adding 10%EM to the test substances strongly inhibited the degradation of iprodione, and its concentration decreased by 30 %, and in the case of other test substances, the degradation was approximately 60 %. Moreover, the addition of yeast stimulated the distribution of pyraclostrobin and boscalid in lettuce leaves. The risk assessment for the pesticides ranged from 0.4 to 64.8 % on day 1, but after 14 days, it ranged from 0.0 to 20.9 % for children and adults, respectively. It indicated no risk of adverse effects following exposure to individual pesticides and their mixtures with EM and yeast.

[Method of colored model radicals for assessment of oxidative equilibrium in biologic samples].

The most specific method of the recording of the rate offree radical reactions is the method of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, but it is rarely used in applied biology due to expensive equipment and complexity of the execution of measurements. However chemists have found a number of colored organic radicals which lose the coloring under transition into diamagnetic form. In the given paper there are presented results of our studies on the development of methods for the assessment of oxidant equilibrium in biological media with a use of stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and cation-radicals of N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DEPPD). We have developed the new modification of DPPH test, replacing methanol-based incubation medium by non-ionic detergent solution, compatible with native blood serum. Modified DPPH test conserved typical biphasic kinetics of the origin variant, had the similar sensitivity to model antioxidants (IC values 49, 38 and 13 mkMfor ascorbate, a-tocopherol and quercetine, correspondingly) and was applied in experiments on laboratory animals treated with nano- and ionic silver, carbon nanotubes, microfine coal and electrolytic dust. We have tried also the assay of serum lipid hydroperoxides based on Fe-initiated DEPPD oxidation (Alberti et al., 2000). The comparison of kinetics of DEPPD oxidation in model (HO/Fe) and biologic (rat serum/Fe) systems, before and after Fe addition, seems to be an evidence that ceruloplasmin (CP) was involved in the resulting process, but failed to determine its polynomial kinetics, at least for the rat serum and DEPPD excess. The use of CP monoclonal antibodies seems to be the best way for the clarification of the mechanism of this reaction.

Exposure monitoring and risk assessment of biphenyl in the workplace.

This study was performed to assess exposure to and the risk caused by biphenyl in the workplace. Biphenyl is widely used as a heat transfer medium and as an emulsifier and polish in industry. Vapor or high levels of dust inhalation and dermal exposure to biphenyl can cause eye inflammation, irritation of respiratory organs, and permanent lesions in the liver and nervous system. In this study, the workplace environment concentrations were assessed as central tendency exposure and reasonable maximum exposure and were shown to be 0.03 and 0.12 mg/m³, respectively. In addition, the carcinogenic risk of biphenyl as determined by risk assessment was 0.14 × 10⁻4 (central tendency exposure) and 0.56 × 10⁻4 (reasonable maximum exposure), which is below the acceptable risk value of 1.0 × 10⁻4. Furthermore, the central tendency exposure and reasonable maximum exposure hazard quotients were 0.01 and 0.06 for oral toxicity, 0.05 and 0.23 for inhalation toxicity, and 0.08 and 0.39 for reproduction toxicity, respectively, which are all lower than the acceptable hazard quotient of 1.0. Therefore, exposure to biphenyl was found to be safe in current workplace environments. Because occupational exposure limits are based on socioeconomic assessment, they are generally higher than true values seen in toxicity experiments. Based on the results of exposure monitoring of biphenyl, the current occupational exposure limits in Korea could be reviewed.

Assessment of antioxidant activity of spray dried extracts of Psidium guajava leaves by DPPH and chemiluminescence inhibition in human neutrophils.

This work evaluated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of spray dried extracts (SDE) from Psidium guajava L. leaves. Different drying carriers, namely, maltodextrin, colloidal silicon dioxide, Arabic gum, and ß -cyclodextrin at concentrations of 40 and 80% relative to solids content, were added to drying composition. SDE were characterized through determination of the total phenolic, tannins, and flavonoid content. Antioxidant potential of the SDE was assessed by two assays: cellular test that measures the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LumCL) produced by neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and the DPPH radical scavenging (DPPH∗ method). In both assays the antioxidant activity of the SDE occurred in a concentration-dependent manner and showed no toxicity to the cells. Using the CLlum method, the IC50 ranged from 5.42 to 6.50 µg/mL. The IC50 of the SDE ranged from 7.96 to 8.11 µg/mL using the DPPH(•) method. Psidium guajava SDE presented significant antioxidant activity; thus they show high potential as an active phytopharmaceutical ingredient. Our findings in human neutrophils are pharmacologically relevant since they indicate that P. guajava SDE is a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in human cells.

Assessment of the anti-diarrhea function of compound Chinese herbal medicine Cangpo Oral Liquid.

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea is a big problem in piglets. Cangpo Oral Liquid (COL) is a compound of Chinese herbal medicine. The preparation was fed to piglets had diarrheal disease in order to determine its anti-diarrhea activity and potential applications in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The contents of Berberine hydrochloride, Magnolol and Honokiol in COL were performed on HPLC analysis. Organ bath was used to investigate the effect of COL on peristaltic reflexes and peristaltic waves in vitro. And anti-diarrhea activity of COL was evaluated in clinical. RESULTS: Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and HPLC analyses showed that the contents of Berberine hydrochloride, Magnolol and Honokiol in COL were 970µg/mL, 130µg/mL and 300µg/mL, respectively. Administration of the COL to the organ bath caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of intestinal peristalsis. When the COL concentration in the bath was cumulatively increased, the amplitude and frequency of the peristaltic waves was lowered. The result of clinical efficacy of COL was very effective to diarrheic piglets. COL can possibly inhibit the curve of peristaltic waves in vitro; and clinical trial showed a statistically significant therapeutic effect in vivo. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, COL can be used as an effective therapeutic agent. However, the ingredients, pharmacokinetics and specific signaling pathways of COL need to be further studied.

Assessment of potential causes of falsely positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis breath test.

A suite of volatiles have previously been identified as specific markers of Mycobacterium tuberculosis metabolism in vitro. These markers - methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, methyl nicotinate, o-phenylanisole with the addition of methyl salicylate, may also be derived from other sources and confound development of a breath test for tuberculosis. To identify potential sources of these potential biomarkers food products, cosmetics, TB medication, environmental air and cigarette smoke were analysed for these markers using solid phase microextraction coupled with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Breath from healthy subjects, including smokers was also tested. Methyl salicylate was commonly detected, making this unsuitable as a specific marker for M. tuberculosis. Methyl nicotinate was detected repeatedly in cigarettes. Methyl phenylacetate was detected in 1.7% of healthy subjects and o-phenylanisole in just 1% of healthy breath indicating these may be more suitable for inclusion in the tuberculosis breath test due to their low "background" level. These results justify further clinical studies to further explore these markers as specific indicators of M. tuberculosis infection.

Characterization of in vivo antioxidant constituents and dual-standard quality assessment of Danhong injection.

Antioxidants and oxidative stress play a critical role in cardiovascular diseases. Danhong injection (DHI) is a well prescribed cardiovascular medication in China, but its detailed chemical basis and mechanisms of action remain unknown. To prove the antioxidant activity of DHI, its free radical scavenging capacity (RSC) was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) spectrophotometric assay. The 50% radical scavenging activity value was 1:129.2 mL/mL, against 0.95 mM DPPH. To further identify the antioxidant compounds, modified thin-layer chromatography combined with DPPH bioautography assay was used. Compared with vitamin C, 11 of 16 available compounds displayed strong antioxidant activity, which were also detected in rat serum after intravenous administration of DHI by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, except for hydroxysafflor yellow A. Therefore, 10 antioxidants remaining in the blood as key markers, and six other compounds as general markers, were employed to perform the quality control of DHI by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection after systematic methodological validation. The analytical results indicate a high correlation (r = 0.9) between the total content of those antioxidants remaining in blood and RSC of DHI among 10 batches. Further, the antioxidant profiling and chemical marker quantification as dual-standard quality assessment was successfully applied to evaluate Danshen and safflower injections.

Comprehensive assessment of antioxidant activity of essential oils.

UNLABELLED: Essential oils have been studied for their unique ability to act as antioxidants. Antioxidant activities of 423 essential oils of 48 different botanical families were evaluated for their antioxidant activities as free radical scavenging agents using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method. Seventy-three oils showed 50% or more inhibition at a concentration of 1.25 mg/mL. The 73 most active oil samples were further evaluated for their scavenging activities using series of dilutions to estimate their EC(50) . The EC(50) of the 73 most active oils ranged from 4 to 2000 µg/mL. Oils having an EC(50) of less than 300 µg/mL (20 selected samples) were subjected to ß-carotene bleaching antioxidant activity test and more detailed analysis including thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography and bioautography. Essential oils of the botanical families Lamiaceae and Myrtaceae were the most effective antioxidants. Thymol and carvacrol were the major constituents in most of the essential oils of the family Lamiaceae and eugenol was the major terpene in all of the essential oils of the family Myrtaceae. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Supplementation of food with spices containing essential oils may counteract and retard the process of oxidative damage, lipid oxidation and elevate antioxidant activity of the final product.

Assessment of enzymatic prodrug stability in human, dog and simulated intestinal fluids.

The aim of this study was to determine the stability of three ester prodrugs, chloramphenicol succinate, enalapril and candesartan cilexetil, in human proximal small intestinal fluid (HIF), dog proximal small intestinal fluids (DIF) and simulated intestinal fluid (FaSSIF), with the addition of pancreatin. The total protein content in the proximal jejunal fluids was determined in HIF and DIF, respectively. Candesartan cilexetil was significantly degraded in HIF (initial t(1/2(0-5 min))=5.4 ± 0.5 min) and in DIF (initial t(1/2(0-5 min))=5.7 ± 0.1 min), while chloramphenicol succinate and enalapril were stable in both media. The degradation of candesartan cilexetil was shown to be mediated by enzymes following Michaelis-Menten enzyme kinetics and was inhibited by addition of esterase inhibitors. The enzymatic capacity reflected by V(max) was 4-fold higher in DIF than in HIF and correlated to its 2-fold higher protein concentration. The degradation of candesartan cilexetil in the FaSSIF-pancreatin solution was slower (t(1/2)=207 ± 34 min) than the degradation in both HIF and DIF. Changing the pH to the enzyme optima or increasing the amount of pancreatin, increased the degradation rate of candesartan cilexetil, but not in the magnitude as in HIF. As a result, two in vitro models, based on in vivo intestinal fluids, were developed using candesartan cilexetil as a model drug. The DIF seems to be a reasonably good model for HIF, although the degradation capacity seems to be somewhat higher, possibly due to the higher enzyme concentration in DIF. Future investigations will develop novel enzymatic based in vitro models for rapid assessment and biopharmaceutical screening tools for prodrugs.

Assessment of some Australian red wines for price, phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and vintage in relation to functional food prospects.

UNLABELLED: Twenty-three Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the Mudgee region and thirty-two Shiraz wines from the Hunter Valley region were analyzed for phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Concentrations of (+)-catechin, quercetin, and transresveratrol, total phenolic content, and DPPH antioxidant activity varied considerably, both within and between varieties. Individual phenols, total phenols, and antioxidant activity were correlated with price and vintage. Shiraz wines showed positive and significant correlations for catechin and quercetin concentrations with total phenols, antioxidant activity, and vintage; and for total phenols and antioxidant activity with vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon wines showed positive and significant correlations for quercetin concentration with total phenols and antioxidant activity. There was a negative and significant correlation found between price and antioxidant activity for Cabernet Sauvignon wines. Results are discussed in terms of the potential for wine to be considered a functional food. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: We report on potential health benefits (antioxidant activity) of 55 wines typical of 2 geographically close, but distinct, wine regions of Australia. Our results highlight the variability in functional components as an issue that needs further research and consideration in relation to wine as a functional food. The price of studied wines is not reflective of their health functionality, based on antioxidant activities.

Assessment of anti-oxidant activity of plant extracts using microbial test systems.

AIMS: To evaluate the anti-oxidant properties of extracts from 20 medicinal herbs growing in western Siberia using microbial test systems and different in vitro methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: In vivo anti-oxidant activity of extracts was evaluated for their capacity to protect bacteria, Escherichia coli, against bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of H(2)O(2) and menadione, and action on anti-oxidant gene expression. In vitro anti-oxidant activity has been examined by a number of methods including: the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH(*))-scavenging assay, chelating activity and capacity to protect plasmid DNA against oxidative damage. In addition, total polyphenol content was determined. The extracts of Fragaria vesca, Rosa majalis, Pentaphylloides fruticosa, Alchemilla vulgaris and Pulmonaria mollis possessed the highest levels of anti-oxidant activity in vivo and in vitro. The protective properties were more closely related to the DPPH(*) radical-scavenging activity, tannin content and action on anti-oxidant gene expression than to other parameters. CONCLUSION: The extracts of medicinal plants may have anti-oxidant effects on bacteria simultaneously through several different pathways, including direct inhibition of reactive oxygen species, iron chelation and anti-oxidant genes induction. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Using microbial test systems, we revealed herbs that may be used as potential sources of natural anti-oxidants.

Level of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls (PCDD/Fs, PCBs) in human milk and the input to infant body burden.

This study determined PCDD/F and PCB levels in human milk, examined factors associated with levels of contamination, and assessed the infant body burden from breast-feeding. The congeners of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs, and indicator PCBs were analyzed by HRGC/HRMS for 36 human milk samples from healthy women, aged 20-35 years, from December 2000 to November 2001 in central Taiwan. Mean levels of WHO-TEQs in human milk were 10.5 (95% CI=8.8-12.2) and 14.5 (95% CI=12.5-16.5) pg-TEQ/g lipid for those <29 and > or =29 years old, respectively. PCB 138 concentration significantly predicted total WHO-TEQs with r2=0.84 (p <0.001). Milk level of dioxin-TEQ was 9.63 pg-TEQ/g lipid (95% CI=7.0-13.2) in those with a yearly income $29,000 compared to 6.3 pg-TEQ/g lipid (95% CI=5.2-7.6) for those whose yearly income was $18,000 per year. Women who reported being Buddhist (64.3 ng/glipid) had significantly higher indicator PCB concentrations than did those who reported being Taoist (35.3 ng/g lipid). The monthly dioxin intake of exclusively breastfed infants decreased with increasing duration of lactation. The cumulative dose of exclusively breastfed infants (76.5 ng TEQ, 95% CI=69.7-83.3) was significantly greater compared to that of formula-fed infants (CI=16.4-17.0) at one year and to that of infants at birth (3.90 ng TEQ, 95% CI=3.6-4.2). Our findings suggest that breast-feeding should be strongly encouraged for infants in Taiwan.