Application of magnetic field and iron in order to change medicinal products of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum basilicum</Emphasis>

In the present research, the effects of static magnetic field, with or without iron on the growth, the activity of certain enzymes (like polyphenol oxidase and phenyle alanine ammonialyase), the content of phenolic compounds and the essential oil composition of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) were studied. Treatment of plants with static magnetic field with or without iron led to decrease of the growth of plants as well as decrease in the activity of phenyle alanine ammonialyase and of phenolic compounds content. In addition in those plants exposed to magnetic field the amount of essential oils, notably of methyl chavicol, was increased. Exposure of plants to the magnetic field decreased the activity of polyphenol oxidase, whereas treatment of plants with iron when exposed to magnetic field increased polyphenol oxidase activity. In this group the content of essential oil was reduced.     

增塑剂DIDP对肝脏氧化应激损伤及VitE拮抗作用研究

研究增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯(didecyl phthalate, DIDP)致雄性小鼠肝损伤作用及其机理。以雄性BALB/c小鼠为受试动物,随机分为7组,包括溶剂对照组(生理盐水)、4个DIDP染毒组(0.15、1.5、15和150 mg·kg~(-1))、维生素E(vitamin E, VitE)(100 mg·kg~(-1))处理组和DIDP+维生素E处理组(150 mg·kg~(-1)DIDP+100 mg·kg~(-1)VitE),连续灌胃14 d。以肝组织匀浆测定活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione, GSH)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde, MDA)和细胞凋亡因子半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(cysteine aspartic proteinase 3, Caspase-3)水平。采用动物自动生化分析仪检测肝功能指标血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(alanine aminotransferase, ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(aspartate aminotransferase, AST)、白蛋白(albumin, ALB)水平,并同时观察肝组织的病理变化与荧光染色结果。随着DIDP染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肝组织ROS、MDA和Caspase-3含量逐渐上升,血清ALT和AST水平也逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,血清ALB水平也逐渐降低,差异具有统计学意义(P 0.05,P 0.01); VitE处理组ROS、MDA和Caspase-3含量相应降低,血清ALT和AST水平也相应降低,GSH含量逐渐上升,血清ALB水平也相应上升。小鼠肝组织形态观察结果表明,随着DIDP染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肝组织的病理损伤程度呈上升趋势。研究表明,较高剂量(≥15 mg·kg~(-1))的DIDP能造成小鼠的肝脏损伤与细胞凋亡,抗氧化剂VitE可使肝脏损伤与细胞凋亡减轻,对小鼠肝组织起保护作用,说明氧化应激介导了DIDP对机体的损伤。     

无机氮和有机氮对铜绿微囊藻生长和产毒影响的比较

以氯化铵和丙氨酸作为氮源,通过测定铜绿微囊藻细胞生物量、胞内藻毒素含量、基质利用率等变化情况探究并比较两种含氮化合物对铜绿微囊藻生长和产毒的影响.结果表明铵氮低浓度(10 mg·L-1)促进铜绿微囊藻生长,而高浓度(20 mg·L-1)具有抑制作用;不同浓度的丙氨酸对铜绿微囊藻的生长均具有促进作用,最适生长浓度为20 mg·L-1.铵态氮对藻毒素产生的促进作用不明显,丙氨酸则较大的促进了微囊藻产毒,是同时期对照组的6倍.     

Radical Scavengers Suppress Low Frequency EMF Enhanced Proliferation in Cultured Cells and Stress Effects in Higher Plants

Summary In previous publications, we reported that sinusoidal varying magnetic fields (SVMF) modify the activity and dynamics of the malignancy marker adenosine deaminase, and enhance the proliferation of chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF). While the SVMF examined by us (50, 60 & 100 Hz / 0.06–0.7 mT) were all below kT, they may have the potential of altering chemical processes in which excited radicals are involved. We tested this hypothesis in two experimental systems: CEF in culture and Spirodela oligorrhiza (Lemnaceae) (a small aquatic plant, commonly known as Duckweed). CEF were exposed to SVMF of 100 Hz/0.7 mT for 24 h. The addition of the exogenous radical scavengers catalase, superoxide dismutase or vitamin E to the cells during exposure significantly suppressed enhancement of cell proliferation caused by the field (by 79, 67 and 82%, respectively, as evaluated by the MTT colorimetric assay). ¹⁵N NMR analysis of Duckweed plants fed by ¹⁵N-labeled ammonium chloride and exposed to SVMF at 60 and 100 Hz/0.7 mT for 24 h, revealed augmented alanine production. Alanine did not accumulate in the absence of SVMF. The addition of vitamin C, a radical scavenger, reduced alanine production by 82%. Exposure to SVMF resulted in specific metabolic stress effects in Duckweed plants and enhanced proliferation of CEF. In both cases, it is suggested that free radicals are involved.     

Effect of a popular Middle Eastern food (Falafel) on rat liver

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of short-term consumption of oil and frying oil extracted from falafel patties, and then to study the long-term effect of consumption of falafel patties on rat liver gross morphology and serum liver enzymes. The frying oil quality was assessed using thiobarbituric acid reaction on rat liver homogenate. Frying oil and oil extracted from falafel patties were administered to male Wistar albino rats via gavage for 5 days. Blood samples were collected and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and bilirubin levels were determined. Livers were weighed and gross morphology was assessed. For the long-term effect of falafel consumption, rats were fed falafel patties for 30 days, and then blood samples were collected and assayed for the above-mentioned parameters. Short-term consumption of falafel extracts and frying oil did not cause any significant difference in the liver function tests and liver gross morphology. Whereas, long-term consumption of falafel patties caused a significant increase in ALP, ALT, bilirubin level and increased liver weight/body weight ratio denoting hepatotoxicity. This indicates that consumption of large amounts of falafel on daily basis might lead to hepatotoxicity.     

Antimicrobial effects of clofibrate on the wheat pathogen Fusarium culmorum

Abstract

The biological effects of clofibrate (ethyl p‐chlorophenoxy‐isobutyric acid) on the growth and metabolism of the soil‐borne wheat pathogen Fusarium culmorum, were examined.

In mid log phase (16 hr) cultures both phenylalanine uptake and secondary spore production were stimulated at 0.1 μM concentration; the net sterol content was reduced 50% at 0.35 μM; oxygen uptake was stimulated at 0.1 mM; growth was inhibited 50% at 0.1 mM concentration. Both phenylalanine and oxygen uptake were inhibited at 1.0 mM and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity was reduced 50% at 50 mM concentration of clofibrate.

The data indicate that clofibrate affects a number of biological and enzyme systems. The inhibitory effect on the growth of the pathogen suggest a potential use of hypolipidemic agents like clofibrate as an antifungal agent for seed protection.     

Oral administration of potassium bromate, a major water disinfection by-product, induces oxidative stress and impairs the antioxidant power of rat blood

Potassium bromate (KBrO₃) is a widely used food additive, a water disinfection by-product and a known nephrotoxic agent. The effect of KBrO₃ on rat blood, especially on the anti-oxidant defense system, was studied in this work. Animals were given a single oral dose of KBrO₃ (100 mg/kg body weight) and sacrificed 12, 24, 48, 96 and 168 h after this treatment. Blood was collected from the animals and separated into plasma and erythrocytes. KBrO₃ administration resulted in increased lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, hydrogen peroxide levels and decreased the reduced glutathione content indicating the induction of oxidative stress in blood. Methemoglobin levels and methemoglobin reductase activity were significantly increased while the total anti-oxidant power was greatly reduced upon KBrO₃ treatment. Nitric oxide levels were enhanced while vitamin C concentration decreased in KBrO₃ treated animals. The activities of major anti-oxidant enzymes were also altered upon KBrO₃ treatment. The maximum changes in all these parameters were 48 h after the administration of KBrO₃ and then recovery took place. These results show for the first time that KBrO₃ induces oxidative stress in blood and impairs the anti-oxidant defense system. Thus impairment in the anti-oxidant power and alterations in the activities of major anti-oxidant enzymes may play an important role in mediating the toxic effects of KBrO₃ in the rat blood. The study of such biochemical events in blood will help elucidate the molecular mechanism of action of KBrO₃ and also for devising methods to overcome its toxic effects.