Increasing algal biofuel production using Nannocholropsis oculata cultivated with anaerobically and aerobically treated swine wastewater.

For mass production of Nannocholropsis oculata, a cheap nutrition source such as swine wastewater is required. The use of a combination of anaerobically/aerobically treated swine wastewater (AnATSW) was compared to artificial 3×f/2 medium in terms of algal growth rate and oil content. For microalgae cultured in 0-50% (v/v) AnATSW, a biomass of 0.94-3.22 g L(-1) was reached in 5 days. For microalgae cultured in 3×f/2 medium with vitamins, the lipid productivity was 0.122 g L(-1) d(-1) although its oil content reached 48.9%. Culturing N. oculata in 0-50% AnATSW resulted in an optimal lipid productivity of 0.035-0.177 g L(-1) d(-1). Only vitamins improved algal production of more oxidatively stable compositions of unsaturated oils. These oils were similar to the chemical structure of rapeseed oil based on analysis of the bis-allylic-position-equivalent value (30.64-46.13) and the iodine value (90.5-117.46). These oils were similar to coal based on the calculated low-heating-value of 17.6-22.9 MJ/kg.

α-Tomatine suppresses invasion and migration of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells through inactivating FAK/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and reducing binding activity of NF-κB.

α-Tomatine, isolated from Lycopersicon esculentum Linn., is a naturally occurring steroidal glycoalkaloid in immature green tomatoes. Some reports demonstrated that α-tomatine had various anticarcinogenic properties. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of α-tomatine in NCI-H460 human non-small cell lung cancer cells. First, the results showed that α-tomatine significantly suppressed the abilities of the adhesion, invasion, and migration of NCI-H460 cells under non-cytotoxic concentrations. Molecular data also showed α-tomatine could inhibit the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signal involve in the downregulation the enzyme activities, protein and messenger RNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7). Next, α-tomatine also strongly inhibited the degradation of inhibitor of kappaBα (IκBα) and the nuclear levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). Also, a dose-dependent inhibition on the binding ability of NF-κB by α-tomatine treatment was further observed. Furthermore, α-tomatine significantly decreased the levels of phospho-Akt and MMP-7 in Akt1-cDNA-transfected cells concomitantly with a marked reduction on cell invasion and migration. Presented results indicated α-tomatine might be further application for treating cancer metastasis.

A characterization of the antioxidant enzyme activity and reproductive toxicity in male rats following sub-chronic exposure to areca nut extracts.

In the present study, areca nut extracts (ANE) administered to male rats by gavage at a dose of 100mg/kg/day for a period of 15, 30, or 45 days resulted in signs of reproductive toxicity. ANE administration resulted in a significant decline (30-57% in epididymal sperm count and 27-61% in sperm motility) as well as substantial abnormalities in sperm morphology. Significant variances in activities of antioxidant enzymes were also observed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, which represent the level of lipid peroxidation, increased by 16-188% and levels of sialic acid decreased by 2-46% compared with that in controls. These results indicate that ANE induced spermatogenic damage, as indicated by a decrease in sperm counts and sperm motility as well as the activity of antioxidant enzymes, an increase in sperm abnormalities, and alterations in sialic acid and MDA levels. Such effects reflect that ANE administration resulted in reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced oxidative stress in the testis, cauda epididymis, and sperm of male rats.