Chemopreventive effects of ellagic acid against genotoxicity induced by benzo(a)pyrene

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is a commonly used indicator for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination. The use of certain phytochemicals and some polyphenolic compounds proved to be effective in blocking PAH-induced effects. The aim of the present study was to examine the possible inhibitory effects of ellagic acid (EA), present in berries and nuts, against B(a)P-mediated toxicity using in vitro and in vivo test systems. In vitro method included the Ames test, using Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA100. In vivo experiments were based on mouse bone marrow micronucleus (MN) assay and immunoblotting. EA produced a decrease in the number of revertant colonies against B(a)P in the Ames assay. Further, there was a reduction in the mean number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes in the presence of EA in the co-treatment protocol of the MN test. Western blotting results showed downregulation of CYP450 isoform CYP1A1 which prevented bioactivation of B(a)P. Thus, the present study demonstrates antimutagenic role played by EA against the mutagenic activity of B(a)P in both in vitro and in vivo systems.     

3种填料A.ferrooxidans挂膜效果及对模拟酸性矿山废水中Fe2+生物矿化能力比较

氧化亚铁硫杆菌（A.ferrooxidans）介导的生物矿化方法可促使酸性矿山废水（Acid Mine Drainage,AMD）中Fe离子向次生铁矿物转变. 采用固定化的方式来提高A.ferrooxidans密度有助于强化Fe²⁺的生物矿化能力.选取流化床19孔填料、弹性填料、悬浮球填料作为挂膜对象, 通过多批次的连续培养来考察3种填料的A.ferrooxidans挂膜能力及稳定挂膜所需周期,继而比较3种挂膜填料对模拟AMD中Fe²⁺的生物矿化能力,并估算A.ferrooxidans有效生物量.结果表明,3种填料（5.00 g）的A.ferrooxidans挂膜能力依次为弹性填料（1.76 g）＞流化床19孔填料（0.90 g）＞悬浮球填料（0.78 g）（干重）,且挂膜启动至稳定状态至少需要4批次.X射线衍射分析（X-ray diffraction,XRD）表明,3种填料表面 含矿生物膜均为施氏矿物和黄钾铁矾的混合物.以游离态A.ferrooxidans的Fe²⁺氧化速率作为参比,估算出流化床19孔填料、弹性填料、悬浮球填料生物膜中A.ferrooxidans有效生物量依次为1.67×10⁸、8.52×10⁸、1.92×10⁸ cells·g^-1 （干基）.研究还发现,等同Fe²⁺生物氧化速率下, A.ferrooxidans挂膜填料比游离态A.ferrooxidans具有更强的AMD矿化驱动能力.     

模拟黑麦草根系有机酸参与下炼锌废渣对斑马鱼抗氧化酶和神经毒性的影响

为评价多金属矿山废渣堆场生态修复过程中,废渣在先锋修复植物根系分泌的机酸参与下浸出液对周边环境生物的影响.以斑马鱼（Danio rerio）为受试生物,通过模拟添加典型先锋植物（黑麦草）根系分泌的有机酸（草酸和酒石酸）处理贵州威宁土法炼锌废渣,以废渣浸出液对受试生物抗氧化酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶（AchE）的不同响应为评价指标,研究各处理组对斑马鱼抗氧化系统、神经系统及组织学的影响.结果表明,两种有机酸的参与均会不同程度地降低炼锌废渣浸出液的pH,并导致废渣释放出更多重金属;暴露于有机酸参与的废渣浸出液14 d后,受试生物组织中的抗氧化酶受到显著影响,并因无法克服长时间的氧化应激最终引起丙二醇（MDA）在组织中累积;有机酸参与下废渣浸出液对斑马鱼具有明显的神经毒性,长时间暴露后受试生物出现游动迟缓、呼吸慢和鳃盖张合频率降低的现象;鳃组织存在上皮细胞水肿、增生或脱落、鳃丝充血和鳃小片扭曲或断裂的现象,而肌肉组织中出现更多肌纤维核增大、固缩和碎裂的现象.综上,选用适生性和耐受性较强、根系发达且有机酸分泌量较大的先锋植物来修复多金属废渣场地将可能促进废渣中重金属的释放并引起环境生物抗氧化系统和神经系...     

FeS对CW-MFC系统降解活性艳红X-3B效果及过程的影响

在自行构建的人工湿地-微生物燃料电池(CW-MFC)系统中,以砾石填料为对照,研究了FeS对活性艳红X-3B脱色效果及降解过程的影响.结果表明,加在底层区域的FeS能够显著提高CW-MFC对活性艳红X-3B的脱色效果和系统产电性能.FeS的投加使得系统脱色率在进水活性艳红X-3B浓度200mg/L、葡萄糖浓度100mg/L条件下达到99.83%.在进水活性艳红X-3B浓度100mg/L、葡萄糖浓度200mg/L条件下,FeS组最大功率密度达到0.849W/m³.活性艳红X-3B在系统中的脱色主要发生在底层和阳极区域,由紫外-可见全波长扫描图谱和GC-MS扫描图谱可知FeS在该区域促进了偶氮双键的断裂,并有利于脱色产物苯胺、三嗪结构、萘环结构的进一步降解.     

钠化改性河南南部膨润土吸附亚甲基蓝性能分析

以河南南部天然钙基膨润土为原料,通过钠化改性得到了钠基膨润土.通过调控吸附剂用量、亚甲基蓝（MB）浓度、吸附时间、溶液pH值和温度,分析对比了天然钙基膨润土（PRT-1）、钙基提纯膨润土（PRT-1T）和钠基膨润土（PRT-1Na）对MB的去除效率.同时,对PRT-1T和PRT-1Na对MB的吸附动力学和吸附机制进行了研究.结果表明,由于PRT-1Na有更大的比表面积、更高的阳离子交换容量和更丰富的羟基结构,表现出对MB更好的吸附效果.在同等吸附条件下,PRT-1Na的吸附效果是PRT-1的4倍,PRT-1T是PRT-1的2倍.在20℃,pH为6,PRT-1Na用量为1.0 g,吸附时间为2 h,MB为500 mL,且初始浓度为500 mg·L^-1时,MB去除率高达99.89%.另外,PRT-1Na对MB染料废水的吸附既存在物理吸附也有化学吸附,Elovich模型对PRT-1T和PRT-1Na吸附MB染料废水的过程拟合度均高,但伪一级动力学模型对PRT-1Na拟合效果最好.     

植物细胞对环境胁迫的适应性应答Ⅰ:水杨酸对大蒜培养细胞中超氧化物歧化酶的增效诱导

大蒜培养细胞对水杨酸的应答比对温度和水分胁迫的应答更为强烈，其主要特征是抗氧化酶类超氧化物歧化酶的大量生成，同时还观察到水杨酸对冷胁迫或热休克介导的酶诱导作用的强化．上述结果暗示着自由基的生成是环境胁迫作用于植物细胞的机制之一，水杨酸诱导产生的抗氧化活性高于冷胁迫或热休克．这表明化学胁迫可能以一种与物理胁迫不同的方式诱导超氧化物歧化酶同工酶的生成     

A conceptual framework: Redefining forest soil's critical acid loads under a changing climate

Federal agencies of several nations have or are currently developing guidelines for critical forest soil acid loads. These guidelines are used to establish regulations designed to maintain atmospheric acid inputs below levels shown to damage forests and streams. Traditionally, when the critical soil acid load exceeds the amount of acid that the ecosystem can absorb, it is believed to potentially impair forest health. The excess over the critical soil acid load is termed the exceedance, and the larger the exceedance, the greater the risk of ecosystem damage. This definition of critical soil acid load applies to exposure of the soil to a single, long-term pollutant (i.e., acidic deposition). However, ecosystems can be simultaneously under multiple ecosystem stresses and a single critical soil acid load level may not accurately reflect ecosystem health risk when subjected to multiple, episodic environmental stress. For example, the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina receive some of the highest rates of acidic deposition in the eastern United States, but these levels are considered to be below the critical acid load (CAL) that would cause forest damage. However, the area experienced a moderate three-year drought from 1999 to 2002, and in 2001 red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees in the area began to die in large numbers. The initial survey indicated that the affected trees were killed by the southern pine beetle (Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.). This insect is not normally successful at colonizing these tree species because the trees produce large amounts of oleoresin that exclude the boring beetles. Subsequent investigations revealed that long-term acid deposition may have altered red spruce forest structure and function. There is some evidence that elevated acid deposition (particularly nitrogen) reduced tree water uptake potential, oleoresin production, and caused the trees to become more susceptible to insect colonization during the drought period. While the ecosystem was not in exceedance of the CAL, long-term nitrogen deposition pre-disposed the forest to other ecological stress. In combination, insects, drought, and nitrogen ultimately combined to cause the observed forest mortality. If any one of these factors were not present, the trees would likely not have died. This paper presents a conceptual framework of the ecosystem consequences of these interactions as well as limited plot level data to support this concept. Future assessments of the use of CAL studies need to account for multiple stress impacts to better understand ecosystem response.     

Elimination kinetics of perfluorohexanoic acid in humans and comparison with mouse,rat and monkey

Major fluorinated chemical manufacturers have developed new short-chain per- and polyfluorinated substances with more favorable environmental, health and safety profiles. This study provides the first evaluation of the elimination half-life of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) from the blood of humans. PFHxA biomonitoring data were obtained from a recently published study of professional ski wax technicians. These data were analyzed to provide estimates of the apparent half-life of PFHxA from humans, and comparisons were made with kinetic studies of PFHxA elimination from mice, rats and monkeys. The apparent elimination half-life of PFHxA in highly exposed humans ranged between 14 and 49 d with a geomean of 32 d. The half-lives of PFHxA in mice, rats, monkeys and humans were proportional to body weight with no differences observed between genders, indicating similar volumes of distribution and similar elimination mechanisms among mammalian species. Compared to long-chain perfluoroalkyl acid analogs, PFHxA is rapidly cleared from biota. The consistent weight-normalized elimination half-lives for PFHxA in mammalian species indicates that results obtained from animal models are suitable for establishment of PFHxA benchmark dose and reference dose hazard endpoints for use in human risk assessments.     

Antioxidants in Hot Pepper: Variation Among Accessions

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pepper (Capsicum spp.) germplasm collection contains several thousand members or accessions. Many of these species and cultivars have not been analyzed for their concentrations of ascorbic acid, capsaicin, and total phenolic compounds, which are important antioxidants having a number of benefits for human health. The objective of this investigation was to select candidate accessions of hot pepper having high concentrations of ascorbic acid, capsaicin, free sugars, and total phenols for use as parents in breeding for these compounds. Seventeen accessions of pepper from the core Capsicum germplasm collection (four accessions of Capsicum chinense; five accessions of C. baccatum; six accessions of C. annuum; and two of C. frutescens) were field grown and their mature fruits were analyzed for their antioxidant composition. Concentrations of these compounds tended to be higher in C. chinense and C. baccatum, than in C. annuum and C. frutescens. Across all accessions the concentration of total phenols was correlated with ascorbic acid (r = 0.97) and free sugars (r = 0.80). Concentrations of total phenols (1.4, 1.3, and 1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) and ascorbic acid (1.6, 1.2, and 1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) were significantly greater in PI-633757, PI-387833, and PI-633754, respectively, compared to other accessions analyzed. Total capsaicinoids concentrations were greatest (1.3 mg g^?1 fruit) in PI-438622 and lowest (0.002 mg g^?1 fruit) in Grif-9320. The great variability within and among Capsicum species for these phytochemicals suggests that these selected accessions may be useful as parents in hybridization programs to produce fruits with value-added traits.