Arjun Banskota

Pseudoalteromonasis a globally distributed marine-associated genus that can be found in a broad range of aquatic environments, including in association with macroalgal surfaces where they may take advantage of these rich sources of polysaccharides. The metabolic systems that confer the ability to metabolize this abundant form of photosynthetically fixed carbon, however, are not yet fully understood. Through genomics, transcriptomics, microbiology, and specific structure-function studies of pathway components we address the capacity of newly isolated marine pseudoalteromonads to metabolize the red algal galactan carrageenan. The results reveal that the κ/ι-carrageenan specificpolysaccharide utilizationlocus (CarPUL) enables isolates possessing this locus the ability to grow on this substrate. Biochemical and structural analysis of the enzymatic components of the CarPUL promoted the development of a detailed model of the κ/ι-carrageenan metabolic pathway deployed by pseudoalteromonads...

rights: 本文データは和漢医薬学会の許諾に基づきCiNiiから複製したものである Liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis of Brazilian propolis and the leaves, buds, stem and flowers of Baccharis dracunculifolia were performed. The water extracts of propolis and B. dracunculifolia both contain 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (28), 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (31) and chlorogenic acid (32). The intensities of 28 and 31 in the water extract of the buds were stronger than the other parts, suggesting that the buds of B. dracunculifolia should be potent source of these caffeoylquinic acids. Moreover, 27 individual compounds including labdane-type diterpenes, prenylated compounds, flavonoids and other phenolics which were previously isolated from Brazilian propolis, were also identified in the MeOH extract of B. dracunculifolia. Among them, 24 compounds were detected in the buds alone, indicating that it should be an important source of Brazilian propolis. The botanical origin of 19 components of Brazilian prop...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly people, currently with no cure. Its mechanisms are not well understood, thus studies targeting cause-directed therapy or prevention are needed. This study uses the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans PD model. We demonstrated that dietary supplementation of the worms with an extract from the cultivated red seaweed Chondrus crispus decreased the accumulation of α-synulein and protected the worms from the neuronal toxin-, 6-OHDA, induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration. These effects were associated with a corrected slowness of movement. We also showed that the enhancement of oxidative stress tolerance and an up-regulation of the stress response genes, sod-3 and skn-1, may have served as the molecular mechanism for the C. crispus-extract-mediated protection against PD pathology. Altogether, apart from its potential as a functional food, the tested red seaweed, C. crispus, might find promising...

The H2O, H2O/MeOH (1 : 1) and MeOH extracts of the wood of Taxus yunnanensis possessed significant DPPH radical scavenging and nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activities. Chemical investigation of these extracts led us to isolation of nineteen compounds, i. e., five lignans, two simple phenolics, and twelve taxane-type diterpenes. Isotaxiresinol and seco-isolariciresinol, two major lignans of the wood, possessed potent DPPH radical scavenging activities with IC 50 values of 21.7 and 28.9 microM, respectively. Similarly, coniferyl aldehyde, taxusin, 10-deacetyltaxuyunnanine C, hongdoushan A, and 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-[( S)-2-methylbutyryloxy]-4(20),11-taxadiene showed potent NO inhibitory activity with IC 50 values of 18.0, 22.1, 28.5, 15.0 and 26.4 microM, respectively, which were either equal or lower than the positive control NG-monomethyl- L-arginine ( L -NMMA) with an IC 50 value of 28.5 microM.

The hepatoprotective effect of taxiresinol ( 1) and (7' R)-7'-hydroxylariciresinol ( 2), two tetrahydrofuran-type lignans isolated from the wood of Taxus yunnanensis, were investigated on D-galactosamine ( D-GalN)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hepatic liver injury in mice. Pre-administration of 1 or 2 at doses of 50 and 10 mg/kg ( i. p.) at 12 and 1 h before D-GalN/LPS injection significantly inhibited hepatocyte DNA fragmentation and apoptotic body formation. Pre-treatment of these two lignans further suppressed hepatic necrosis which occur at later stage of D-GalN/LPS intoxication as demonstrated by the significant and dose-dependent reduction in serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (sGPT) and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT) at 8 h after intoxication. The elevation of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha) level by D-GalN/LPS toxication was significantly inhibited by 1 or 2 at doses of 50 and 10 mg/kg. Moreover, both of these lignans significantly protected hepatocytes from D-GalN/TNF- alpha-induced cell death in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes. These results suggested that 1 and 2 had protected the hepatocytes from apoptosis via an inhibition of TNF- alpha production by activated macrophages and a direct inhibition of apoptosis induced by TNF- alpha in D-GalN/LPS-treated mice.

Chemical investigation of the freshwater microalgae Chlorella sorokiniana led to the isolation of a new monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol, namely, (2S)-1-O-(7Z,10Z-hexadecadienoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (1) together with a known glycolipid (2S)-1-O-(7Z,10Z,13Z-hexadecatrienoyl)-3-O-β-D-galactopyranosylglycerol (2). Both monogalactosylmonoacylglycerols showed dose-dependent nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophage cells suggesting their possible use as anti-inflammatory agents.

Three new C-14 oxygenated taxane-type diterpenes, hongdoushans A-C (1-3), were isolated from the wood of Taxus yunnanensis together with four known diterpenes and two lignans. The absolute stereochemistry of the 2-methylbutyryloxy group attached at C-14 of the taxane skeleton was determined to be S by GC analysis of the methyl ester of 2-methylbutyric acid obtained after alkaline hydrolysis of 1 and 4 followed by treatment with CH(2)N(2). The complete stereostructure of the known compound 2alpha,5alpha,10beta-triacetoxy-14beta-[(S)-2-methylbutyryloxy]-4(20),11-taxadiene (4) was established for the first time. The isolates obtained were evaluated for their antiproliferative activity toward murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cell lines.

Three genuine saponins, named kinmoonosides A-C (1-3), have been isolated, together with a new monoterpenoid (4), from a methanolic extract of the fruits of Acacia concinna. The structures of kinmoonosides A-C were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis as 3-O-¿alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2) ]-b eta-D-glucopyranosyl¿-21-O-¿(6R, 2E)-2-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-6-O-[4-O-(2'E)-6'-hydroxyl-2'-hydroxymet hyl-6'-methyl-2',7'-octadienoyl-beta-D-quinovopyranosyl]-2, 7-octadienoyl¿acacic acid 28-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]-a lpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (1); 3-O-¿alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2) ]-b eta-D-glucopyranosyl¿-21-O-¿(6S, 2E)-2-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-6-O-[4-O-(2'E)-6'-hydroxyl-2'-hydroxymet hyl-6'-methyl-2',7'-octadienoyl-beta-D-quinobopyranosyl]-2, 7-octadienoyl¿acacic acid 28-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]-a lpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2); and 3-O-¿alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl(1-->6)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->2) ]-b eta-D-glucopyranosyl¿-21-O-[(2E)-6-hydroxyl-2-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl- 2,7-octadienoyl]acacic acid 28-O-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl(1-->3)]-a lpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), respectively. The new monoterpenoid 4 was determined as 4-O-[(2E)-6-hydroxyl-2-hydroxymethyl-6-methyl-2, 7-octadienoyl]-D-quinovopyranose. Compounds 1-3 showed significant cytotoxicity against human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells.

Hemp seed by-products, namely hemp cake (hemp meal) and hemp hulls were studied for their lipid content and composition. Total lipid content of hemp cake and hemp hulls was 13.1% and 17.5%, respectively. Oil extraction yields using hexane, on the other hand, were much lower in hemp cake (7.4%) and hemp hulls (12.1%). Oil derived from both hemp seeds and by-products were primarily composed of neutral lipids (>97.1%), mainly triacylglycerols (TAGs), determined by SPE and confirmed by NMR study. Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid present in oils derived from hemp by-products, covering almost 55%, followed by α-linolenic acid, covering around 18% of the total fatty acids. For the first time, 47 intact TAGs were identified in the hemp oils using UPLC-HRMS. Among them, TAGs with fatty acid acyl chain 18:3/18:2/18:2 and 18:3/18:2/18:1 were the major ones, followed by TAGs with fatty acid acyl chain of 18:3/18:3/18:2, 18:2/18:2/16:0, 18:2/18:2/18:1, 18:3/18:2.18:0, 18:2/18:2/18:0, 18...