Effects of herbal infusions, tea and carbonated beverages on alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity.

Various alcoholic beverages containing different concentrations of ethanol are widely consumed, and excessive alcohol consumption may result in serious health problems. The consumption of alcoholic beverages is often accompanied by non-alcoholic beverages, such as herbal infusions, tea and carbonated beverages to relieve drunk symptoms. The aim of this study was to supply new information on the effects of these beverages on alcohol metabolism for nutritionists and the general public, in order to reduce problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption. The effects of 57 kinds of herbal infusions, tea and carbonated beverages on alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity were evaluated. Generally, the effects of these beverages on alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase activity are very different. The results suggested that some beverages should not be drank after excessive alcohol consumption, and several beverages may be potential dietary supplements for the prevention and treatment of problems related to excessive alcohol consumption.

Comparative root protein profiles of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) and Indian ginseng (Withania somnifera).

Ginsenosides and withanolides are the secondary metabolites from Panax ginseng and Withania somnifera, respectively. These compounds have similar biological properties. Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis was utilized to reveal the protein profile in the roots of both plants, with the aim of clarifying similarly- and differentially-expressed proteins. Total proteins of Korea ginseng (P. ginseng) and Indian ginseng (W. somnifera) roots were separated by 2-DE using a pH 4-7 immobilized pH gradient strip in the first dimension and 12% sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the second dimension. The protein spots were visualized by silver staining. Twenty-one P. ginseng proteins and 35 W. somnifera proteins were chosen for identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry; of these, functions were ascribed to 14 and 22 of the P. ginseng and W. somnifera proteins, respectively. Functions mainly included general cell metabolism, defense and secondary metabolism. ATPase and alcohol dehydrogenase proteins were expressed in both plants. The results of this study, to our knowledge, are the first to provide a reference 2-DE map for the W. somnifera root proteome, and will aid in the understanding of the expression and functions of proteins in the roots of Korean ginseng and Indian ginseng.

Toxic effects of zinc on anaerobic microbiota from Zimapán Reservoir (Mexico).

The toxic effects of heavy metals have been extensively documented in different organisms. Nevertheless, a lack of information exists with regard to this topic in the case of autochthonous microorganism communities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxic effects of zinc on the anaerobic microorganisms present in the sediment and anoxic water of Zimapán Reservoir (Mexico), with particular focus on dissimilatory sulphate reducing bacteria. In the laboratory, a system of enrichment microcosms was set up with sediment and water from the reservoir. ATP, protein, carbohydrates and lactate and alcohol dehydrogenase activity were determined. The physicochemical parameters of the reservoir were evaluated over the course of one year. Sulphate reduction occurred in the reservoir throughout the year, but was most pronounced at the end of the wet season and during winter. In the field, increases in the rate of sulphate reduction coincided with the lowest levels of total phosphorus and hydrosoluble organic carbon. Zinc enrichment was observed to modify protein and carbohydrate content as well as to affect lactate and alcohol dehydrogenase activity. All responses followed a zinc concentration-response relationship and were dependent on reservoir physicochemical parameters. ATP content was used as a biomarker to evaluate the sublethal toxic effects of zinc. The acceptable threshold concentration of zinc in the aquatic and sediment enrichment microcosms was determined to be 0.06mgZn/L and 711.1mgZn/kg, respectively.

Detection of NAD+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase activities in YR-1 strain of Mucor circinelloides, a potential bioremediator of petroleum contaminated soils.

Different soluble NAD+-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) isozymes were detected in cell-free homogenates from aerobically grown mycelia of YR-1 strain of Mucor circinelloides isolated from petroleum- contaminated soil samples. Depending on the carbon source present in the growth media, multiple NAD+-dependent ADHs were detected when hexadecane or decane was used as the sole carbon source in the culture media. ADH activities from aerobically or anaerobically grown mycelium or yeast cells, respectively, were detected when growth medium with glucose added was the sole carbon source; the enzyme activity exhibited optimum pH for the oxidation of different alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and hexadecanol) similar to that of the corresponding aldehyde (approximately 7.0). Zymogram analysis conducted with partially purified fractions of extracts from aerobic mycelium or anaerobic yeast cells of the YR-1 strain grown in glucose as the sole carbon source indicated the presence of a single NAD+-dependent ADH enzyme in each case, and the activity level was higher in the yeast cells. ADH enzyme from mycelium grown in different carbon sources showed high activity using ethanol as substrate, although higher activity was displayed when the cells were grown in hexadecane as the sole carbon source. Zymogram analysis with these extracts showed that this particular strain of M. circinelloides has four different isozymes with ADH activity and, interestingly, one of them, ADH4, was identified also as phenanthrene-diol- dehydrogenase, an enzyme that possibly participates in the aromatic hydrocarbon biodegradation pathway.

Oral Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis differentiation by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and sodium dodecylsulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Five oral strains of Candida albicans and five C. dubliniensis, as well as their respective type-strains, were analyzed by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) and sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). After electrophoreses and numerical analyses, we obtained two distinct species-specific taxa, which may justify the use of MLEE and SDS-PAGE as reliable methods for differentiation and complementary identification of C. dubliniensis.

Anaerobic processes in yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) root nodules.

The lupin root nodule homogenate was separated by centrifugation in the Percoll density gradient into the Rhizobium bacteroid fraction and plant subcellular components. High activities of alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase in the soluble fraction of host plant, and high capability of the isolated bacteroids to oxidize ethanol, malate, lactate and acetaldehyde evidence functional interrelationship between the plant and bacteroids.