Effect of smoking conditions and methods of collection on the mutagenicity and cytotoxicity of cigarette mainstream smoke.

There is a history for the use of in vitro bioassays to assess the toxicological properties of mainstream cigarette smoke (MSS). The results described in the literature were, for the most part, obtained with MSS collected under Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or International Organization for Standardization (ISO) conditions. However, numerous studies have shown that smokers smoke their cigarettes more intensely (e.g., they take larger puffs and/or more frequent puffs and/or partially occlude filter ventilation) than they are smoked on smoking machines operated under FTC (or ISO) conditions. It has also been reported that MSS composition changes with changes in smoking conditions. Furthermore, some governmental agencies have adopted regulations that specify more intensive protocols (i.e., Health Canada Intensive, HCI) for the collection of MSS for in vitro toxicological assays. Consequently, the performance of the Ames assay (TA98+S9, TA100+S9) and neutral red uptake assay under ISO and HCI protocols was studied with two blended (KR1R4F/KR2R4F, KR1R5F) and one flue-cured (CIM-7) reference cigarettes. The main outcome was when results were reported on a per milligram TPM (that portion of the mainstream smoke which is trapped in the smoke trap, expressed as milligrams per cigarette) basis generated under ISO conditions was more mutagenic and more cytotoxic than was TPM generated under HCI conditions. However, the decrease in biological activity could not be explained only by the increased in the water content of the TPM on going from ISO to HCI smoking conditions, and the results may be influenced by differences in smoke chemistry as a result of differing smoke collection systems.

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes by compounds from Daucus carota L. Seeds.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes inhibitory assay directed investigation of Daucus carota seed extracts resulted in the isolation and characterization of compounds, 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (1), oleic acid (2), trans-asarone (3) and geraniol (4). Compounds 1-4 showed 3.32, 45.32, 46.15, and 3.15% of prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-I (COX-I) inhibitory activity and 52.69, 68.41, 64.39 and 0% prostaglandin H endoperoxide synthase-II (COX-II) inhibitory activity, respectively at 100 mg mL(-1). Compound 1 showed selectivity towards COX-II enzyme inhibition at 100 microg mL(-1). The COX-II/COX-I ratio for compound 1 was 17.68 at 100 microg mL(-1) compared to solvent control. Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Aspirin, Celebrex and Vioxx at concentrations of 2.06, 2.52, 180, 1.67 and 1.67 microg mL(-1), respectively, gave COX-II/COX-I ratios of 1.13, 0.92, 0.24, 16 and 75, respectively. The inhibition of COX-II enzymes by compounds 1 at 100 microg mL(-1) was significant when compared to Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen and Celebrex at concentrations studied.

Pest-managing efficacy of trans-asarone isolated from Daucus carota L. seeds.

The bioactive hexane extract of Daucus carota seed yielded 2,4,5-trimethoxybenzaldehyde (1), oleic acid (2), trans-asarone (3), and geraniol (4). Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their mosquitocidal, nematicidal, antifeedant, and antimicrobial activities. Only trans-asarone was active in the assays performed, causing 100% mortality to fourth-instar mosquito larvae, Aedes aegyptii, at 200 microg mL(-1) and the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Panagrellus redivivus at 100 microg mL(-1). In feeding trials, trans-asarone also caused significant weight reductions of the caterpillars Helicovarpa zea, Heliothis virescens, and Manduca sexta when incorporated into artificial diet at a concentration of 100 microg mL(-1). Also, it exhibited slight activity at 100 microg mL(-1) against the yeasts Candida albicans, Candida parapsilasis, and Candida kruseii.

Antioxidant and cyclooxygenase activities of fatty acids found in food.

Several commercially available C-8 to C-24 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids (1-29) were assayed for cyclooxygenase-I (COX-I) and cyclooxygenase-II (COX-II) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Among the saturated fatty acids tested at 60 microg mL(-1), there was an increase in antioxidant activity with increasing chain length from octanoic acid to myristic acid (C-8-C-14) and a decrease thereafter. All unsaturated fatty acids tested at 60 microg mL(-1) showed good antioxidant activity except for undecylenic acid (12), cis-5-dodecenoic acid (13), and nervonic acid (29). The highest inhibitory activities among the saturated fatty acids tested on cyclooxygenase enzymes COX-I and COX-II were observed for decanoic acid to lauric acid (3-5) at 100 microg mL(-1). Similarly, among the unsaturated fatty acids tested, the highest activities were observed for cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid (25) and cis-13,16-docosadienoic acid (27) at 100 microg mL(-1).