Environmental Impacts and Recovery After the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill in Korea.

The Hebei Spirit oil spill (HSOS) on December 7, 2007 was the worst oil spill recorded in Korea, with the release of approximately 10,900 tons of crude oil and 375 km of coastline polluted along the west coast of Korea. Cleanup operation was conducted by official and contract responders as well as volunteers for massive oil containment and removal of heavy accumulations of stranded oil. Together with the oil cleanup, a long-term environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the HSOS was initiated based on the Marine Environmental Management Act, which covers oil contamination in a multimedia environment, toxic effects on organisms, and ecosystem injury. This review summarizes the long-term monitoring results of HSOS EIA focused on (1) pollution status of seawater, sediment, and bivalves, (2) ecotoxicological effects, and (3) ecosystem recovery. Overall, concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in the environment indicated that their concentrations were well down to at or near background or pre-spill contamination levels at most sites after 1 year. The potential toxic effects of residual oils in sediments have decreased to background levels in most coastal areas of Taean. The entire ecosystem in the most affected area of the Taean coasts appear to be considerably, but not fully, recovered at present, namely after 8 years of the HSOS. The presence of lingering oil and elevated contamination levels at several sites still require continuous long-term monitoring.

A new C-methylated flavonoid glycoside from Pinus densiflora.

A new C-methyl flavonol glycoside, 5,7,8,4'-tetrahydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylflavone 8-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), has been isolated from the needles of Pinus densiflora, together with kaempferol 3-O-beta-(6"-acetyl)-galactopyranoside.

A triterpene glucosyl ester from the roots of Rubus crataegifolius.

Along with five known triterpene glycosides, a new triterpene glucosyl ester, named crataegioside, was isolated from the roots of Rubus crataegifolius Bunge. The structure was established as ilexosapogenin A 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

A new cyclic phenyllactamide from Salvia miltiorrhiza.

From the rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza, a new cyclic phenyllactamide was isolated and characterized as 2,10,11-trihydroxy-8-methoxy-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-benzo[e]azecine-3,5-dione (1) from spectroscopic evidence. The new compound was found to be a scavenger of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical.

Activity of crude extract of Rubus crataegifolius roots as a potent apoptosis inducer and DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor.

The effects of methanol extract of Rubus crategifolius roots and its solvent fractions were investigated on the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells. The methanol extract inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, their methanol soluble (W-M) fraction had the greatest inhibitory effect on the growth of MCF-7 cells. To evaluate whether the W-M fraction affects on the cell cycle of MCF-7 cells, cells treated with this fraction were analyzed with flow cytometry. The W-M fraction increased G0/G1 phase after 24 h-treatment and induced apoptosis after 48 h-treatment. The hallmark of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, also appeared by W-M fraction after 48 h-treatment. Furthermore, the methanol extract and its W-M fraction inhibited the activity of the topoisomerase I enzyme in the relaxation assay. From these results, their W-M fraction as well as methanol extract of R. crategifolius roots are necessary for further studies as a potent inhibitor of the growth of cancer cells.

Inhibitory effect of sesquiterpene lactones from Saussurea lappa on tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in murine macrophage-like cells.

Total methanol extract of Saussurea lappa radix (Compositae) showed potent inhibitory effect on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a proinflammatory cytokine, in murine macrophage-like cell (RAW264.7 cells) in our previous screening studies on 120 Korean medicinal plants. The activity-guided purification of the plant resulted in the isolation of three components. The chemical structures of the components isolated were established by spectroscopic analyses as sesquiterpene lactones [cynaropicrin (1), reynosin (2), and santamarine (3)]. These three compounds inhibited TNF-alpha production in a dose-dependent manner. The molar concentrations of cynaropicrin, reynosin, and santamarine producing 50% inhibition (IC50) of TNF-alpha production were 2.86 micrograms/ml (8.24 microM), 21.7 micrograms/ml (87.4 microM), and 26.2 micrograms/ml (105 microM), respectively. However, treatment with sulphydryl (SH) compounds such as L-cysteine, dithiothreitol, and 2-mercaptoethanol abrogated the inhibitory effect of cynaropicrin on TNF-alpha production. Therefore, we conclude that the principal inhibitory component of Saussurea lappa is cynaropicrin and its inhibitory effect is mediated through conjugation with SH-groups of target proteins.

Reynosin from Sassurea lappa as inhibitor on CINC-1 induction in LPS-stimulated NRK-52E cells.

An inhibitor on CINC-1 (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-1) induction in LPS-stimulated rat kidney epithelioid NRK-52E cells was purified from the roots of Sassurea lappa Clarke, a herbal medicine used in Korean traditional prescriptions for gastric intestinal diseases by a variety of column chromatographic procedures. The inhibitor was identified as reynosin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated and characterized previously from Ambrosia confertiflora DC., and Magnolia grandiflora L. Reynosin exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition on CINC-1 induction in LPS-stimulated NRK-52E cells, where 50% of inhibitory effect was shown at the concentration of about 1 microM.

Cytotoxic constituents of Saussurea lappa.

The crude extract of Saussurea lappa displayed significant lethality to brine shrimp larvae. Investigation of the causative components by bioactivity-directed fractionation resulted in the isolation of three C17-polyene alcohols. Based on various nmr spectral data, these compounds were identified as shikokiols which had been previously isolated from Cirsium nipponicum and/or Centaurea aegyptica. These C17-polyene alcohols exhibited moderate cytotoxicities against the human tumor cell lines, A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, and HCT15.

Isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency.

Isolated sulfite oxidase (SO) deficiency is an autosomal recessively inherited inborn error of sulfur metabolism. In this report of a ninth patient the clinical history, laboratory results, neuropathological findings and a mutation in the sulfite oxidase gene are described. The data from this patient and previously published patients with isolated sulfite oxidase deficiency and molybdenum cofactor deficiency are summarized to characterize this rare disorder. The patient presented neonatally with intractable seizures and did not progress developmentally beyond the neonatal stage. Dislocated lenses were apparent at 2 months. There was increased urine excretion of sulfite and S-sulfocysteine and a decreased concentration of plasma cystine. A lactic acidemia was present for 6 months. Liver sulfite oxidase activity was not detectable but xanthine dehydrogenase activity was normal. The boy died of respiratory failure at 32 months. Neuropathological findings of cortical necrosis and extensive cavitating leukoencephalopathy were reminiscent of those seen in severe perinatal asphyxia suggesting an etiology of energy deficiency. A point mutation that resulted in a truncated protein missing the molybdenum-binding site has been identified.

Diacylglycerylgalactosides from Arisaema amurense.

Previously undescribed 1,2-O-diacyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl glycerols and 1,2-O-diacyl-3-O-[alpha-D-galactopyranosyl-(1"-->6')-O-beta-D- galactopyranosyl] glycerols were isolated as single components from Arisaema amurense. The cytotoxicities of these compounds against P388 and DLD-1 are described.

New bioactive cerebrosides from Arisaema amurense.

From Arisaema amurense, four new cerebrosides were isolated along with a known cerebroside. The new cerebrosides were characterized as 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (2S,3R,4E,8Z)-2-[(2(R)- hydroxyicosanoyl)amido]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (1), 1-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8Z)- 2-[(2-hydroxyoctadecanoyl)amido]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol (2), 1-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl- (2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-[(2-hydroxyicosanoyl)amido]-4,8-oct adecadiene-1,3-diol (4), and 1-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8E)-2-[(2-hydroxyoctadecanoyl )amido]-4,8- octadecadiene-1,3-diol (5), respectively. These cerebrosides displayed significant antihepatotoxic activity.

Cytotoxic clerodane diterpenes from Polyalthia longifolia.

Bioassay-directed chemical investigation of the stem bark of Polyalthia longifolia Thw. (Annonaceae) has led to a novel clerodane diterpene, 16-oxo-cleroda-3, 13(14)Z-dien-15-oic acid, which was named polyalthialdoic acid (3). The bioassays also led to the previously known related diterpenes, kolavenic acid (2) which has not been reported as a constituent of this plant, and 16 alpha-hydroxy-cleroda-3,13(14)Z-dien-15,16-olide (1) which is previously known to be in this plant. These structures were identified by chemical and spectroscopic methods. All three compounds (1-3) were significantly bioactive in the brine shrimp bioassay; they strongly inhibited the growth of crown gall tumors on potato discs; and they were cytotoxic in three human tumor cell lines. These activities suggest potential antitumor applications. Compound 3 was the most active (ED50 values ca. 6 x 10(-1) micrograms/ml in the human tumor cell culture systems).