[Chemical constituents from seeds of Hydnocarpus anthelminthica].

The present study investigated the chemical constituents from the dry seeds of Hydnocarpus anthelminthica. The compounds were isolated and purified from the dry seeds of H. anthelminthica by various chromatographic techniques including column chromatography over silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 and reversed-phase HPLC. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro cytotoxic activities were determined by MTT assay. Ten compounds were isolated and identified as 2-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1-propanol(1), threo-1,2-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-diol(2), erythro-1,2-bis-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propane-1,3-diol(3), 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3-oxo-1-propanol(4), 3-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one(5), chrysoeriol(6), evofolin B(7), apigenin-3'-methoxy-7-O-rutinoside(8), luteolin(9), and vitexin(10). Compound 1 is a new compound. Compounds 4 and 5 were isolated from this genus for the first time. All compounds showed no significant cytotoxic activity.

The Brassica epithionitrile 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane triggers cell death in human liver cancer cells in vitro.

SCOPE: Glucosinolates are secondary metabolites present in Brassica vegetables. Alkenyl glucosinolates are enzymatically degraded forming nitriles or isothiocyanates, but in the presence of epithiospecifier protein, epithionitriles are released. However, studies on the occurrence of epithionitriles in Brassica food and knowledge about their biological effects are scarce. METHODS AND RESULTS: Epithionitrile formation from glucosinolates of seven Brassica vegetables was analyzed using GC-MS and HPLC-DAD. Bioactivity of synthetic and plant-derived 1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane (CETP) - the predominant epithionitrile in Brassica vegetables - in three human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and primary murine hepatocytes was also evaluated. The majority of the Brassica vegetables were producers of nitriles or epithionitriles as hydrolysis products and not of isothiocyanates. For example, Brussels sprouts and savoy cabbage contained up to 0.8 µmol CETP/g vegetable. Using formazan dye assays, concentrations of 380-1500 nM CETP were observed to inhibit the mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity of human HCC cells without impairment of cell growth. At 100-fold higher CETP concentrations, cell death was observed. Presence of plant matrix increased CETP-based toxicity. CONCLUSION: These in vitro data provide no indication that epithionitriles will severely affect human health by Brassica consumption. In contrast to isothiocyanates, no evidence of selective toxicity against HCC cells was found.

Possible health effects of liquefied petroleum gas on workers at filling and distribution stations of Gaza governorates.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is widely used in the Gaza Strip for domestic purposes, in agriculture and industry and, illegally, in cars. This study aimed to identify possible health effects on workers exposed to LPG in Gaza governorates. Data were collected by a questionnaire interview, and haematological and biochemical analyses of venous blood samples were made from 30 workers at filling and distribution stations and 30 apparently healthy controls. Statistically significant differences were found in all self-reported health-related complaints among LPG workers versus controls. LPG workers had significantly higher values of red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit mean corpuscular haemoglobin and platelet counts. They also had significantly higher values of kidney function tests (urea, creatinine and uric acid) and liver function enzyme activities (aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase). LPG workers at Gaza Strip petroleum stations are at higher risk for health-related symptoms and clinical abnormalities.

Study of Zn-Cu ferrite nanoparticles for LPG sensing.

Nanostructured zinc-copper mixed ferrite was synthesized using sol-gel method. XRD patterns of different compositions of zinc-copper ferrite, Zn(1-x)Cu(x)Fe2O4 (x = 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75), revealed single phase inverse spinel ferrite in all the samples synthesized. With increasing copper concentration, the crystallite size was found to be increased from 28 nm to 47 nm. The surface morphology of all the samples studied by the Scanning Electron Microscopy there exhibits porous structure of particles throughout the samples. The pellets of the samples are prepared for LPG sensing characteristics. The sensing is carried out at different operating temperatures (200, 225, and 250°C) with the variation of LPG concentrations (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 vol%). The maximum sensitivity of 55.33% is observed at 250°C operating for the 0.6 vol% LPG.

Detection and identification of 1-methylethyl and methyl radicals generated by irradiating tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil with visible light (436 nm) in the presence of flavin mononucleotide and ferrous ion.

Here, we determined the electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra of standard reaction mixtures (I) containing 25 µM flavin mononucleotide (FMN), 0.018% tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil, 1.9 M acetonitrile, 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), 0.1 M α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (4-POBN), and 1.0 mM FeSO4(NH4)2SO4 irradiated with 436 nm visible light (7.8 J/cm²). Prominent ESR signals (αN = 1.58 mT and αHß = 0.26 mT) were detected, suggesting that free radicals form in the standard reaction. In order to know whether singlet oxygen (¹O2) is involved in the radical formation or not, ESR measurement was performed for the standard D2O reaction mixture (I) which contained 25 µM FMN, 0.0036% tea tree oil, 1.9 M acetonitrile-d3, 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), 0.1 M 4-POBN and 1.0 mM FeSO4 in D2O. The ESR peak height of the standard D2O reaction increased to 169 ± 24% of the control. Thus, ¹O2 seems to be involved in the formation of the radicals because D2O increases the lifetime of singlet oxygen. High-performance liquid chromatography-ESR-mass spectrometry analyses detected 1-methylethyl and methyl radicals in the standard reaction. The radicals appear to form through the reaction of ferrous ion with α-terpinene endoperoxide (ascaridole), which generated from the reaction of α-terpinene with ¹O2. The 1-methylethyl and methyl radicals may exert a pro-oxidant effect under these conditions.

HPLC analysis of supercritical carbon dioxide and compressed propane extracts from Piper amalago L. with antileishmanial activity.

Piper amalago L. leaves were extracted with supercritical carbon dioxide and compressed propane under different conditions, and with chloroform by the conventional maceration method. These methods were compared for the pyrrolidine alkaloid content. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SFE-CO2) at 313 K and 12.55 MPa showed the highest selectivity for the main compound (600.53 mg/g of extract). A gradient high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and validated to quantify the alkaloid N-[7-(3',4'-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2(Z),4(Z)-heptadienoyl]pyrrolidine in the extracts. The HPLC method showed linearity, precision and accuracy, allowing the quantitative analysis of the alkaloid in all the samples. All the extracts were tested against the promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. The antileishmanial activity was evaluated in terms of inhibitory concentration for 50% of protozoa (IC50). The cytotoxicity was also evaluated against J774A1 macrophages, and the cytotoxic concentrations for 50% of macrophages were obtained (CC50). The SFE-CO2 (313 K; 12.55 MPa) extract showed the highest antileishmanial activity with the following IC50 values of 16 and 7 µg/mL against the promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes forms, respectively. The extract showed low cytotoxicity with a CC50 value of 93 µg/mL.

Organic carbonate from Calotropis procera leaves.

The leaves of Calotropis procera yielded an organic carbonate (1), along with stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol, identified by spectroscopic methods.

Fabric protectors. Part I - Evaluation of a grab sampling technique for determination of organic vapors.

A grab sampling technique utilizing evacuated glass sampling bulbs was evaluated and was found suitable for the simultaneous determination of propane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and petroleum distillates which would be generated into air during the use of fabric protectors.

Fabric protectors. Part II - Propane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and petroleum distillates levels in air after application of fabric protectors.

Propane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and petroleum distillates levels in air which were generated during the use of aerosol type fabric protectors were monitored by means of the NIOSH charcoal tube, a glass bulb grab sampling, and the GASBADGE passive device techniques. Although 1982 ACGIH TLV-STEL were readily exceeded in an unventilated test room, when fabric was sprayed with 450 g of fabric protector in an unconfined area within a home the generated vapors quickly dispersed and STEL and 8-hour TWA-TLV were not exceeded.