Protective effects of Persea americana fruit and seed extracts against chemically induced liver cancer in rats by enhancing their antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and apoptotic activities

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to explore the chemopreventive mechanisms of hydroethanolic extracts from avocado (Persea Americana) in diethylnitrosamine...     

Pesticide residues in artichokes: Effect of different head shape

Abstract

Residues of three pesticides (dimethoate, parathion, and pyrazophos) in two artichoke cultivars, Masedu and Spinoso sardo, were investigated. The amount of pesticides in artichokes was greatly affected by the head shape. In the case of the calix‐shaped Masedu artichoke, the residues in whole heads at commercial ripening were on average about twice higher than those of the pagoda‐shaped Spinoso sardo artichoke. In the heart this ratio was 4 to 42 times greater. Residue decay rates were very fast, mainly owing to the dilution effect due to head growth.     

Linkage of a geographical information system with the gleams model to assess nitrate leaching in agricultural areas

The GLEAMS (Groundwater Loading Effects of Agricultural Management Systems, Version 2.10) model was linked with a Geographical Information System (GIS) to evaluate the risk of nitrate pollution in an area of 230 km2 near Valencia (Spain). Under Mediterranean conditions, GLEAMS was calibrated and validated using results from field experiments on citrus orchards and vegetables grown in that area. A graphical user interface (GUI) was implemented in the GIS-model system to allow a non-specialist to run the model, and to represent simulation results as a thematic map. In order to execute the GLEAMS model, data must be grouped in five basic layers: four layers correspond to the base maps (soils, climate, land use, NO3 content in irrigation water), and the fifth layer corresponds to agricultural management practices, introduced in the system interacting to the GUI. To illustrate system capabilities. two rotations with crops in the vegetable area (potato/lettuce/onion/cauliflower, and artichoke/artichoke in 2 years rotation each), and orange trees in the citrus area, were simulated to determine the N leached in the study area. Pollution risk maps show that vegetable crops and areas irrigated with groundwater have the highest potential risk of groundwater nitrate pollution. Further analysis identified potato and artichoke (in the first year) to be the crops with the higher risk.     

厌氧-两级SBR法处理高浓度洋蓟废水的研究

采用厌氧两级SBR工艺处理洋蓟罐头生产排放的高浓度有机废水,确定了厌氧、SBR工艺的最佳运行参数。结果表明,通过该工艺处理后,COD的总去除率达到98%以上,出水COD为78mg/L,达到国家排放标准。     

Development of monoclonal antibody-based immunoassays for the analysis of bisphenol A in canned vegetables

The aim of this work was the development of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and highly sensitive immunoassays (ELISAs) to bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor able to migrate from the internal coating of cans to food contained inside, particularly vegetables. To produce MAbs to BPA, four synthetic compounds were conjugated to proteins and used as immunizing haptens in mice. By applying hybridoma technology, several MAbs were produced and selected. These antibodies were characterized in the conjugate-coated and in the antibody-coated formats, using both homologous and heterologous conjugates. Three indirect ELISA based on the MAbs showing the highest affinity to BPA were selected. The limit of detection of the most sensitive ELISA was 0.22 nM (0.05 ng/mL), with an I?? value of around 1 nM (0.23 ng/mL). An homologous ELISA based on the MAb BPAB-11 was applied to the simple, direct determination of BPA in the liquid portion of canned artichoke, peas, and sweet corn. Only sample dilution in an appropriate saline buffer was required to minimize matrix effects and to enter the ELISA working range. Recovery and precision of the method were evaluated by spiking the liquid portion of these cans with BPA at 20, 50, and 100 ng/mL. Coefficients of variation were below 20% in most cases. With regard to recovery, the analytical data obtained were also acceptable. This immunoassay has therefore proved its potential as a new tool for the rapid, sensitive and accurate determination of BPA in canned food.     

Degradation of metolachlor in crude extract of Aspergillus flavus

Crude enzyme from a soil fungus, Aspergillus flavus, was isolated from a field soil following repeated applications of metolachlor [2-Chloro-N-(methoxy-1-methylethyl)-2'-ethyl-6'-methyl acetanilide]. Metolachlor hydrolysis by the crude enzyme extract was determined by enzyme assay. The tests were performed in phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, and the reaction was carried out at two herbicide concentrations (20 and 100 microg mL(-1)) and two crude extract volumes (0.2 and 0.5 mL of the homogenized crude extract mixture). The rate of metolachlor degradation was found faster in samples containing higher volume of crude extract, (T(1/2), 5.7 h) for both concentrations of the herbicide. The activities of enzymes responsible for dechlorination coupled with hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, and breaking of amide linkage were found responsible in the degradation.     

Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab in response to plant extract of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) and its effect on non-target organism,earthworm (Eisenia fetida)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Impact of chloroform extract of Desmostachya bipinnata was evaluated on armyworm Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The chloroform extract of...     

污泥提取液与普通小球藻相互影响的特性

本研究将普通小球藻低成本培养与污泥提取液处理相结合,探讨使用污泥提取液与BG11混合培养普通小球藻,以实现养藻成本的降低与污泥资源化利用的目的。通过测定小球藻细胞密度、叶绿素a、中性油脂等生长特性以及污泥提取液中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、总有机碳(TOC)和毒性等降解指标的变化,来验证污泥提取液与普通小球藻生长的相互影响。结果表明,污泥提取液占总培养基(提取液与BG11)体积的20%(v/v)时,普通小球藻细胞密度最大,细胞中中性油脂积累较好,但不利于藻细胞叶绿素a的合成;普通小球藻对污泥提取液中的TN、TP、总有机碳(TOC)、毒性等都有显著的去除效能,在污泥提取液含量为20%、培养240 h时,TN、TP、毒性的去除率分别为89.91%、92.31%和63.08%。     

Treatment of trinitrotoluene by crude plant extracts

Crude plant extract solutions (spinach and parrotfeather) were prepared and spiked with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) (20 mgl(-1)). 90-h TNT removal by these solutions was compared to controls. Spinach and parrotfeather extract solutions removed 99% and 50% of the initial TNT, respectively; TNT was not eliminated in the controls or in extract solutions where removal activity was deactivated by boiling. A first-order removal constant of 0.052 h(-1) was estimated for spinach extract solutions treating 20 mgl(-1) TNT concentrations, which compared favorably to intact plant removal. Concentration variation was described by Michaelis-Menton kinetics. Detectable TNT degradation products represented only a fraction of the total TNT transformed, and the transformation favored the formation of 4-aminodinitrotoluene. The results indicated that crude plant extracts transform TNT, without the presence of the live plant.     

Impact of the toxicity of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Woloszynska) Seenayya & Subba Raju on laboratory rats in vivo

In vivo laboratory studies of toxicity were performed on Wistar rats using a methanol extract produced by the natural population of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (abundance of 2.13 × 10⁵ trichomes mL⁻¹) collected at Aleksandrovac Lake (Serbia). HPLC analysis showed that the extract contains 6.65 μg cylindrospermopsin (CYN) mg⁻¹. The rats were killed 24 or 72 h after a single intraperitoneal injection of C. raciborskii extract in concentrations of 1500, 3000, 6000 and 12,000 μg kg⁻¹ body weight (bw) and an equivalent amount of CYN as present in the highest dose of the extract (79.80 μg CYN kg⁻¹ bw). The genotoxic effect on the livers treated with C. raciborskii was evaluated using comet assay and potential induction of oxidative stress as the toxicity mechanism associated with the presence of CYN in extract. The results from the analyses of DNA damage in the comet tail length, tail moment and percentage of DNA in the tail in the liver indicated that administration of extract and CYN present statistically significant difference when compared with the negative control group. Although an increase in the frequency of selected parameters induced by the CYN was observed in the liver, this damage was less than the damage resulting from the administration of the highest dose of extract. The changes in the biochemical parameters of the hepatic damage showed that the application of single doses of the extract and CYN did not cause serious liver damage in rats. The extract and CYN significantly increased oxidative stress in rats’ liver after a single exposure.

     

Effects of sawdust pollution on the germination of fungal spores in Lagos Lagoon

Four fungi, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus giganteus, Cladosporium oxysporum a and Trichoderma aureoviride, isolated from Lagos Lagoon, were tested for spore germination in aqueous sawdust extract of different hardwood species (Khaya ivorensis, Mitragyna ciliata and Triplochiton scleroxylon). Extracts of M. ciliata were inhibitory to spore germination especially at higher concentrations. Germ tubes of spores decreased in length with increase in extract concentration for C. oxysporum and T. aureoviride, while Aspergillus species showed increase in length up to a peak at 3% sawdust extract concentration, and thereafter germ tube lengths decreased with increasing concentration. Extracts of T. scleroxylon stimulated the spores and percentage germination increased at higher extract concentrations with no significant difference in germ tube length. Similarly, K. ivorensis had a stimulatory effect on spore germination and length of germ tube, especially at higher extract concentrations. Addition of soluble exogenous carbon and nitrogen sources to sawdust extract enhanced spore germination. Apart from A. flavus, which had only 9% germination, all the spores failed to germinate in lagoon water having 21% salinity. The spores were also inhibited by in lagoon water having 21 per thousand salinity. The spores were also inhibited by various inorganic salts, i.e. CaCl(2), KH(2)PO(4), MgSO(4) and NaCl, present in Lagos Lagoon. The results suggest that sawdust pollution causes enrichment of the lagoon, thereby enhancing spore germination.     

Improvement of solar photo-Fenton by extracts of amazonian fruits for the degradation of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater

Extracts of copoazu (Theobroma gramdiflorum), canangucha (Maurita Flexuosa), and coffee (Coffea arabica) were explored as enhancers of the solar photo-Fenton process to eliminate acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and diclofenac in raw municipal wastewater. The process, at pH 6.2 and 5 mg L^?1 of iron without the presence of extracts, had a very limited action (~35% of the pollutants degradation at 90 min of treatment) due to the iron precipitation. Interestingly, the extract addition increased the soluble iron forms, but only copoazu extract improved the pollutant degradation (~95% of elimination at 20 min of the process action). The copoazu extract components acted as natural complexing agents, maintaining the soluble iron up to 2 mg L^?1 even after 90 min and, consequently, enhancing the pollutant degradation. The effect of copoazu extract dose on the process performance was also assessed, finding that an iron:polyphenols (from the copoazu extract) at a molar ratio equal to 1:0.16 was the most favorable condition. Then, the process improved by copoazu extract was applied to raw municipal wastewater. Remarkably, the process led to ~90% of total pharmaceuticals degradation at 20 min of treatment. This work evidenced the feasibility of amazonian fruit extracts to improve the solar photo-Fenton process to degrade pharmaceuticals in aqueous matrices at near-neutral pH.

     

Enhanced degradation of benzo[a]pyrene by Mycobacterium sp. in conjunction with green alga

Previous work in this laboratory has confirmed that the bacteria Mycobacterium sp. strain RJGII.135 and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae strain B1 and the green alga Selanastrum capricornutum strain UTEX 1648 degrade benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) to various BaP intermediates. S. capricornutum was first grown with BaP for 4 days. The organic extract of this media was then introduced into separate cultures of strain RJGII.135 and strain B1; separate cultures were grown with BaP for comparison. Cultures grown with BaP and those grown with the algal/BaP extract showed similar mineralization patterns. The quantity of total metabolites formed was greater in bacterial cultures grown with the algal/BaP extract than those grown with BaP alone. For strain RJGII.135, only 27% of the original BaP remained in cultures grown with the algal/BaP extract; 59% remained in cultures grown with BaP. For strain B1, only 6% of the original BaP remained in cultures grown with the algal/BaP extract; 38% remained in cultures grown with BaP. These results indicate that strategies utilizing organisms together may be necessary in being able to degrade large, recalcitrant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as BaP.     

Control of common freshwater predatory fish, Channa punctatus, through Nerium indicum leaf extracts

The diethyl ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol extract of Nerium indicum leaf were evaluated for their piscicidal activity against common freshwater air breathing predatory fish Channa punctatus. The rank of order of toxicity (LC50) of the leaf extract was, diethyl ether extract (17.34 mg/l)>acetone (40.01 mg/l)>chloroform (40.61 mg/l)>and methanol (106.37 mg/l). There was a significant negative correlation between LC50 values and exposure periods. Thus increase in exposure period, LC50 decreases from 17.34 mg/l (24 h) to >13.58 mg/l (96 h) in the diethyl ether extract. Similar trends were also observed in acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts. Exposure of sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC50) of the diethyl ether extract of N. indicum leaf (which has maximum piscicidal activity) for 24 or 96 h caused significant alteration in the level of total protein, total free amino acid, nucleic acid, glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and activity of enzyme protease, phosphatases, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and acetylcholinesterase in liver and muscle tissue. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) time and dose dependent. There was a significant recovery in all the above biochemical parameters, in both liver and muscle tissues of fish after the seventh day of the withdrawal of treatment. Thus, the leaf extracts of N. indicum have potent piscicidal activity against fish C. punctatus and also significantly affect both aerobic and anaerobic pathway of respiration in fish.     

Insecticidal activity of different extracts from Scrophularia canina L. against Culex pipiens molestus Forskal (Diptera, Culicidae)

The insecticidal activity of different extracts (aqueous, methyl alcohol, hexane and petroleum ether) of the aerial part of Scrophularia canina against the second and fourth-instar larvae and adult females of Culex pipiens molestus was investigated. The larvicidal activity of all the extracts was tested in the dose range from 7.8 to 1000 ppm. The highest toxicity was exhibited by the petroleum ether extract against second-instar larvae (48 h LC?? = 23.5 ppm) and by the hexane extract against fourth-instar larvae (48 h LC?? = 23.6 ppm). Methyl alcohol and aqueous extracts did not show any larvicidal activity. Sub-lethal doses of petroleum ether and hexane extracts induced increasing mortalities during 13 days after treatment but did not affect the duration of larval and pupal stages. In persistence tests, the hexane extract retained a satisfactory larvicidal activity after a 10-day period of test solutions incubation. Topical treatment of adult females with doses from 0.25 to 8 μg per mg of female body weight of different extracts showed a similar toxicity for the hexane (24 h LD?? = 1.7 μg mg?1) and petroleum ether (24 h LD?? = 1.8 μg mg?1) extracts which were significantly more toxic than methyl alcohol extract (4.2 μg mg?1). Aqueous extract did not induce adult mortality. The marked mosquitocidal activity of petroleum ether and hexane extracts of the aerial part of S. canina against different life stages of C. pipiens molestus is promising to develop effective alternatives to synthetic insecticides.     

Cellular alterations and modulation of protein expression in bitumen-challenged human osteoblast cells

Purpose

There are many arguments on the carcinogenic potential of bitumen extract. The mechanism of bitumen-induced damage is not well understood at the molecular level. Therefore, in the present study, cell-transforming and tumor-inducing potential of bitumen extract was studied using in vitro [human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells] and in vivo [nude and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice] models.

Methods

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was carried out to find out the existence of carcinogenic compounds in the bitumen extract. Cell transformation test, anchorage independence assay, karyotyping assay, tumorigenicity assay, and 2-DE analysis were used to find out the effect of bitumen using the in vitro and in vivo models.

Results

GC/MS analysis showed the existence of carcinogenic compounds in the bitumen extract. HOS cells were treated with different concentrations (25, 50, and 100???l/ml) of bitumen extract. Compared to the parental HOS cells, bitumen transformants (HOS T1 and HOS T2) showed the characteristics of anchorage independency, chromosomal anomaly, and cellular transformation. Interestingly, bitumen transformants were not able to form tumor in nude/SCID mice. Proteomic analysis revealed the existence of 19 differentially expressed proteins involved in progression of cancer, angiogenesis, cell adhesion, etc.

Conclusions

Exposure of bitumen extract to HOS cells results in the cellular transformation similar to cancer cells and can modulate proteins involved in the progression of cancer. We state that the non-tumorogenic potential of bitumen transformant in nude/SCID mice can be attributed to the downregulation of galectin-1, chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 1-like gene, and membrane-associated guanylate kinase 2 protein.     

Degradation of Metolachlor in Crude Extract of Aspergillus Flavus

Abstract

Crude enzyme from a soil fungus, Aspergillus flavus, was isolated from a field soil following repeated applications of metolachlor [2-Chloro-N-(methoxy-1-methylethyl)-2′-ethyl-6′-methyl acetanilide]. Metolachlor hydrolysis by the crude enzyme extract was determined by enzyme assay. The tests were performed in phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, and the reaction was carried out at two herbicide concentrations (20 and 100 μg mL^?1) and two crude extract volumes (0.2 and 0.5 mL of the homogenized crude extract mixture). The rate of metolachlor degradation was found faster in samples containing higher volume of crude extract, (T _1/2, 5.7 h) for both concentrations of the herbicide. The activities of enzymes responsible for dechlorination coupled with hydroxylation, N-dealkylation, and breaking of amide linkage were found responsible in the degradation.     

Germination of Medicago sativa is inhibited by soluble compounds in cement dust

Deposition of cement dust on soils and plant surfaces is known to affect plant growth and the species composition of plant communities, but little is known about its effects (and those of its pH and constituents) on germination. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of an aqueous cement extract, constituents of the extract and pH on the germination of seeds of a selected species, Medicago sativa. First, the effects of the extract were tested in assays with concentrations and exposure durations ranging from 0 to 1.0 g/mL and 4 to 96 h, respectively. At 0.8 g/mL, the extract strongly inhibited germination; a 4-h exposure reduced the germination rate, from 77?±?1.8 to 50?±?2.6 % (mean ± SE), while 8-h exposure completely inhibited it. Further, treatment at this concentration killed the non-germinating seeds, thus the inhibition was due to toxic effects. Neither the pH of the extract nor the concentration of its main soluble elements separately (K, Ca, S, Na, or Cr) caused the toxicity since germination rates were not significantly reduced when these variables were tested individually. However, a mixture of the elements in solution reduced germination rates, suggesting that they have adverse synergistic effects.     

Increased binding of autoantibody to erythrocytes treated with cigarette smoke extract

When human erythrocytes were incubated with cigarette smoke (CS) exract for 1 h, the cells were oxidized as assessed by the decrease of cytoplasmic glutathione level. Because the ability of the CS extract pretreated with antioxidants and enzymes that destroy superoxide and hydrogen peroxide was lower, various oxidants in the extract may be responsible for the reduction of cytoplasmic glutathione levels. The binding of autologous IgG to the CS extract-treated cells as assessed by enzyme immunoassay was dramatically increased. Autologous IgG responsible for the binding may be anti-band 3 autoantibody, because inhibitors of anti-band 3 autoantibody binding effectively inhibited the IgG binding. The results indicate that oxidants in CS extract rendered erythrocytes susceptible to binding of anti-band 3 autoantibody, a known antibody that binds to senescent erythrocytes.     

FT-IR spectra of humic substances extracted with dipolar aprotic solvents

Dipolar aprotic solvents (DMSO, DMF and Acetone) in mixtures with dilute HCl extract humic substances by an intermolecular H-bonds disruption mechanism. FT-IR spectra of extracts and difference spectra of unpurified and purified material and thermogravimetric analysis showed that dipolar aprotic solvents produce humic substances with low contents of inorganic impurities and structurally different from common extractants. DMSO and Acetone extract humus particurally rich in aliphatic and proteinaceous components as compared to common extractant.