Effect of dietary curcumin and ascorbyl palmitate on azoxymethanol-induced colonic epithelial cell proliferation and focal areas of dysplasia.

Curcumin, a major yellow pigment of turmeric obtained from powdered rhizomes of the plant Curcuma longa Linn., is commonly used as a coloring agent in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Ascorbyl palmitate is a lipid soluble derivative of ascorbic acid. Both curcumin and ascorbyl palmitate have antioxidant activity and are potent inhibitors of 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor promotion in mouse skin. The effects of dietary curcumin and ascorbyl palmitate on azoxymethanol (AOM)-induced hyperproliferation of colonic epithelial cells and the incidence of focal areas of dysplasia (FADs) were evaluated in female CF-1 mice fed an AIN 76A diet. Subcutaneous injections of AOM (10 mg/kg body wt. once weekly for 6 weeks) caused hyperplasia and the formation of FADs in the colon. Administration of 2% curcumin in the diet inhibited AOM-induced formation of FADs while administration of 2% ascorbyl palmitate in the diet did not demonstrate inhibition. This result suggests that dietary curcumin may inhibit AOM-induced colonic neoplasia in mice.

Comparative murine metabolism and disposition of class II anthracycline antibiotics.

The metabolism and tissue distribution of aclacinomycin A (ACL), marcellomycin (MCM), and musettamycin (MST), three new anthracycline antibiotics, were compared after IV administration to mice. In plasma, total MCM- and ACL-derived fluorescence declined according to first-order kinetics, whereas an initial decline followed by a rebound was observed for MST. In plasma, MCM remained the predominant compound. ACL was eliminated more quickly, and was replaced by two metabolites, the reduced glycoside M1, and an aglycone. In the case of MST, two unidentified metabolites were observed in concentrations equivalent to that of the parent drug. The three drugs were distributed widely to organs, but only ACL achieved measurable concentrations in the brain. Initially, high concentrations of all three drugs were present in the lungs, but these decreased quickly to values similar to those present in the liver and kidneys. Intermediate concentrations of the three drugs were measured in heart and skeletal muscle. Splenic concentrations of all three drugs rose progressively, reaching a maximum at 8 h after injection in the case of ACL and MST, and at 24 h after injection in the case of MCM. Concentrations of the metabolites of MCM and MST were low in all organs except liver and kidney, where the aglycones 7-deoxypyrromycinone and bisanhydropyrromycinone were seen. The metabolism of ACL was extensive. Aglycones were dominant in the liver and kidneys, whereas reduced glycosides predominated in the spleen. These observations indicate that the murine pharmacology of these three structurally similar drugs differs markedly.

Ion-exchange separation of vanadium, zirconium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten and niobium.

Schemes for the separation of two or more of the elements vanadium, zirconium and/or titanium, molybdenum and tungsten from each other and from relatively large amounts of niobium have been developed, a strongly basic anion-exchange resin being used. Interference from niobium is avoided by using hydrofluoric acid to elute vanadium, zirconium, titanium and molybdenum. The application of coupled columns to improve the efficiency of separation of multicomponent mixtures is demonstrated. The use of an "interval" equation defining the volume interval between successively eluted solutes is proposed for calculating the column length required for a particular separation. This equation is especially useful for determining the extent to which a column must be lengthened when overlapping occurs because of high column loading.

Analysis of niobium alloys.

An ion-exchange method was applied to the analysis of synthetic mixtures representing various niobium-base alloys. The alloying elements which were separated and determined include vanadium, zirconium, hafnium, titanium, molybdenum, tungsten and tantalum. Mixtures containing zirconium or hafnium, tungsten, tantalum and niobium were separated by means of a single short column. Coupled columns were employed for the resolution of mixtures containing vanadium, zirconium or titanium, molybdenum, tungsten and niobium. The separation procedures and the methods employed for the determination of the alloying elements in their separate fractions are described.