Metabolic Activation of Myristicin and Its Role in Cellular Toxicity.

Myristicin is widely distributed in spices and medicinal plants. The aim of this study was to explore the role of metabolic activation of myristicin in its potential toxicity through a metabolomic approach. The myristicin- N-acetylcysteine adduct was identified by comparing the metabolic maps of myristicin and 1'-hydroxymyristicin. The supplement of N-acetylcysteine could protect against the cytotoxicity of myristicin and 1'-hydroxymyristicin in primary mouse hepatocytes. When the depletion of intracellular N-acetylcysteine was pretreated with diethyl maleate in hepatocytes, the cytotoxicity induced by myristicin and 1'-hydroxymyristicin was deteriorated. It suggested that the N-acetylcysteine adduct resulting from myristicin bioactivation was closely associated with myristicin toxicity. Screening of human recombinant cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and treatment with CYP inhibitors revealed that CYP1A1 was mainly involved in the formation of 1'-hydroxymyristicin. Collectively, this study provided a global view of myristicin metabolism and identified the N-acetylcysteine adduct resulting from myristicin bioactivation, which could be used for understanding the mechanism of myristicin toxicity.

RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, benzyl butyrate, CAS Registry Number 103-37-7.

The use of this material under current use conditions is supported by the existing information. This material was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, phototoxicity/photoallergenicity, skin sensitization, as well as environmental safety. Data from the suitable read across analog benzyl acetate (CAS # 140-11-4) show that this material is not genotoxic nor does it have skin sensitization potential and also provided a MOE > 100 for the repeated dose, developmental and reproductive, and local respiratory toxicity endpoints. The phototoxicity/photoallergenicity endpoint was completed based on suitable UV spectra. The environmental endpoint was completed as described in the RIFM Framework.

RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, p-Isopropylbenzyl acetate, CAS Registry Number 59230-57-8.

The use of this material under current use conditions is supported by the existing information. This material was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, phototoxicity, skin sensitization, as well as environmental safety. Data from the suitable read across analog, benzyl acetate (CAS # 140-11-4), show that this material is not genotoxic nor does it have skin sensitization potential. The repeated dose, developmental and reproductive, and local respiratory toxicity endpoints were completed using benzyl acetate (CAS # 140-11-4) as a suitable read across analog, which provided a MOE > 100. The phototoxicity/photoallergenicity endpoint was completed based on suitable UV spectra. The environmental endpoint was completed as described in the RIFM Framework.

RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, α-Methylbenzyl acetate, CAS Registry Number 93-92-5.

The use of this material under current use conditions is supported by the existing information. This material was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, phototoxicity, skin sensitization potential, as well as, environmental safety. Developmental toxicity was determined to have the most conservative systemic exposure derived NO[A]EL of 100 mg/kg/day. A gavage developmental toxicity study conducted in rats on a suitable read across analog resulted in aMOE of 3571 while considering 78.7% absorption from skin contact and 100% from inhalation. A MOE of >100 is deemed acceptable.

RIFM fragrance ingredient safety assessment, Benzyl propionate, CAS Registry Number 122-63-4.

The use of this material under current use conditions is supported by the existing information. This material was evaluated for genotoxicity, repeated dose toxicity, developmental toxicity, reproductive toxicity, local respiratory toxicity, phototoxicity, skin sensitization potential, as well as, environmental safety. Repeated dose toxicity was determined to have the most conservative systemic exposure derived NO[A]EL of 14.5 mg/kg/day. A dietary 2-year chronic toxicity study conducted in rats on a suitable read across analog resulted in a MOE of 1318 while considering 78.7% absorption from skin contact and 100% from inhalation. A MOE of >100 is deemed acceptable.

Identification of a New Class of Antifungals Targeting the Synthesis of Fungal Sphingolipids.

UNLABELLED: Recent estimates suggest that >300 million people are afflicted by serious fungal infections worldwide. Current antifungal drugs are static and toxic and/or have a narrow spectrum of activity. Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new antifungal drugs. The fungal sphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is critical in promoting virulence of a variety of human-pathogenic fungi. In this study, we screened a synthetic drug library for compounds that target the synthesis of fungal, but not mammalian, GlcCer and found two compounds [N'-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-methylbenzohydrazide (BHBM) and its derivative, 3-bromo-N'-(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene) benzohydrazide (D0)] that were highly effective in vitro and in vivo against several pathogenic fungi. BHBM and D0 were well tolerated in animals and are highly synergistic or additive to current antifungals. BHBM and D0 significantly affected fungal cell morphology and resulted in the accumulation of intracellular vesicles. Deep-sequencing analysis of drug-resistant mutants revealed that four protein products, encoded by genes APL5, COS111, MKK1, and STE2, which are involved in vesicular transport and cell cycle progression, are targeted by BHBM. IMPORTANCE: Fungal infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current antifungal drugs suffer from various drawbacks, including toxicity, drug resistance, and narrow spectrum of activity. In this study, we have demonstrated that pharmaceutical inhibition of fungal glucosylceramide presents a new opportunity to treat cryptococcosis and various other fungal infections. In addition to being effective against pathogenic fungi, the compounds discovered in this study were well tolerated by animals and additive to current antifungals. These findings suggest that these drugs might pave the way for the development of a new class of antifungals.

Different effects of two cyclic chalcone analogues on cell cycle of Jurkat T cells.

It has been previously shown that the cyclic chalcone analogues E-2-(4'-methoxybenzylidene)- (2) and E-2-(4'-methylbenzylidene)-1-benzusuberone (3) inhibited proliferation of various murine and human tumor cells. In order to gain new insights into the cytotoxic mechanism of the two compounds detection of apoptosis and necrosis of Jurkat T cells exposed to 2 and 3 were performed by flow cytometry using the Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide double staining method. Analysis of the DNA histograms at 8, 24 and 48 h exposure times showed that near equitoxic doses of 2 and 3 had different effects on the cell cycle of the exposed cells. The immediate (8h) effect of 2 was a remarkable decrease of cells in the G(0)/G(1) phase and increase in the G(2)/M phase. This effect could also be seen in the histogram of cells at the 24h time point. On the contrary, such an effect of 3 could not be observed. At the 24 and 48 h time points accumulation of sub-G(0) (apoptotic and necrotic) and hyperdiploid cells could be detected after both treatments. Incubation of 2 and 3 with reduced glutathione under cell-free conditions indicated spontaneous conjugation (non-redox) reaction at pH 7.4 and pH 9.0. Analyzing the mechanism of action the total thiol content of the cells exposed to compounds 2 and 3 was determined. Compound 2 showed to reduce the total cellular thiol level both under nutrient-free and nutrient-supplemented conditions. Under the latter conditions an increase of the total thiol level of the cells exposed to 3 for 4h could be observed. The different effect of the two compounds on the cellular thiol status might contribute to the different tumor cytotoxicity of the cyclic chalcone analogues 2 and 3. Investigation of antioxidant capacity of the compounds by monitoring time course of the Fenton-reaction initiated in vitro degradation of 2-deoxyribose indicated that both compounds displayed hydroxyl radical scavenger activity. The experiments provide further details of dual--cytotoxic and cytoprotective (chemopreventive)--effects of the compounds.

Toxicological efficacy of some indigenous dill compounds against the flesh fly, Parasarcophaga dux Thomson.

The effect of the LC50 of the three isolated compounds (apiol, myristicin and d-carvone) from dill, Anethum graveolus on growth and reproduction of Parasarcophaga dux showed that three compounds especially apiol caused significant reduction in the percentage of adults emergence and females fecundity. The temperature toxicity relation shape of the three compounds and five insect growth regulations (methoprene, hydroprene, teflubenzuron, chlorfluazuron and Precocene I) alone or in combination against P. dux was studied and discussed.

3-D QSAR studies on new dibenzyltin(IV) anticancer agents by comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA).

Dibenzyltin(IV)dichloride and dibenzyltin(IV)diisothiocyanate derivatives with N,S-donor ligands show significant cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines, and are well compared to analogous dialkyltin(IV) derivatives. CoMFA models were generated for the first time for these organotin derivatives using the cytotoxic activities (against two human tumor cell lines, MCF-7, a mammary carcinoma and WiDr, a colon carcinoma) of 21 complexes. High r(2) and r(2)(cv) values for both CoMFA models indicate good predictive power for the models.

Effects of gavage versus dosed feed administration on the toxicokinetics of benzyl acetate in rats and mice.

Effects of gavage versus dosed feed administration on the toxicokinetics of benzyl acetate were studied in male F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. Benzyl acetate was rapidly hydrolysed to benzyl alcohol and then oxidized to benzoic acid. After gavage administration of benzyl acetate in corn oil at 500 mg/kg (rats) and 1000 mg/kg (mice), high benzoic acid plasma concentrations were observed. In contrast, much lower benzoic acid plasma concentrations were found after dosed feed administration at about 615 mg/kg/day for rats and about 850 mg/kg/day for mice. Results show that although the daily doses of benzyl acetate are comparable, bolus gavage administration effectively saturated the benzoic acid elimination pathway whereas dosed feed administration did not. In contrast, hippuric acid plasma concentrations were similar after both gavage and dosed feed administration due to the depletion of the glycine supply pool. Study results could explain the different toxicity and carcinogenicity responses of benzyl acetate observed in 2-yr chronic gavage and dosed feed studies.

Evaluation of promotion of pancreatic carcinogenesis in rats by benzyl acetate.

Benzyl acetate was found to induce liver tumours and gastric squamous neoplasms in mice in a chronic bioassay conducted through the National Toxicology Program. An increased incidence of acinar cell adenomas of the pancreas of F344 rats was noted in the bioassay, but the significance of these lesions was confounded because the benzyl acetate was given by gavage in corn oil. The use of corn oil as a vehicle has been shown to enhance the growth of such lesions in the rat pancreas. The current studies were undertaken to evaluate benzyl acetate alone as an initiator and promoter of carcinogenesis in the pancreas. Alkaline elution analysis of acinar cell DNA showed no evidence of damage 1 hr after administration of benzyl acetate. Significant stimulation of growth of azaserine-induced foci was observed in a 6-month study, and a low but significant incidence of carcinoma in situ was observed in rats fed benzyl acetate in the diet for 2 yr. These experiments suggest that benzyl acetate is a weak promoter of the growth of carcinogen-induced and spontaneous pre-neoplastic foci in the pancreas.

[A preclinical study on the safety of a new antialcoholic drug inmecarb]. / Doklinicheskoe issledovanie bezopasnosti novogo protivoalkogol'nogo preparata inmekarba.

A preclinical study on safety of a new antialcoholic drug inmecarb was carried out on three species of experimental animals (rats, guinea pigs, dogs) receiving the drug at different doses including a subtoxic one (1/5 of LD50) for 6 months. The authors concluded that on the basis of a relatively low toxicity and the absence of specific toxicity and long-term side effects the drug may be recommended for clinical use as an antialcoholic agent.

Effects of corn oil and benzyl acetate on number and size of azaserine-induced foci in the pancreas of LEW and F344 rats.

The response of LEW and F344 strain rats to the pancreatic carcinogen azaserine was compared using the size and number of azaserine-induced acidophilic acinar cell foci and nodules as parameters in a 4-month experiment. A second experiment compared the effect of corn oil intake by gavage and dietary routes on the growth of azaserine-induced pancreatic lesions in LEW rats. A third experiment tested the activity of benzyl acetate in regard to its ability to induce acinar cell foci or to promote the growth of such foci in azaserine-treated rats. The results showed that equivalent doses of azaserine induce two to seven times more foci in LEW than in F344 rats, and that LEW rats have a higher incidence of "spontaneous" foci than F344 rats. Azaserine-treated LEW rats that were given 5 mL corn oil/kg body weight 5 days per week by gavage developed more acinar cell foci than rats fed a basal diet (chow). Addition of an equivalent amount of corn oil to chow had a similar effect of enhancing the development of foci. Rats of neither strain developed acinar cell foci when benzyl acetate was given by gavage or in the diet nor was there evidence that benzyl acetate has a significant effect on the development of foci in azaserine-treated rats. These studies also demonstrate that the azaserine/rat model of pancreatic carcinogenesis which was developed in LEW rats can be adapted for use with F344 rats.

Decontamination procedures for skin exposed to phenolic substances.

Spraying or swabbing with a mixture of polyethylene glycol 300/industrial methylated spirits (PEG-300/IMS) (2:1 by volume) has been shown to substantially reduce mortality, systemic effects, and skin burns resulting from skin contamination by phenol, cumene hydroperoxide, or phenol/acetone cleavage product. The skin-damaging potentials of sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid have also been investigated. PEG-300/IMS(2:1 by volume) mixture was found, in rats, to be slightly less effective than water as means of decontamination. The PEG-300/IMS mixture has been shown not to cause eye irritation, and so should not present a hazard where this mixture is used as a decontaminant spray.