Kahweol inhibits adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes through downregulation of PPARγ

Kahweol, a compound from Coffea arabica, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumour properties. However, an anti-adipogenic effect has not yet been reported. In this study, we have shown that kahweol has an anti-adipogenic effect on 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Kahweol significantly inhibited the differentiation of intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, without being cytotoxic. It also downregulated the expression of adipogenesis-related gene, including an adipocytokine, adiponectin. This anti-adipogenic effect stems from an ability to inhibit key adipogenic regulators, including PPARγ and C/EBPα. These results demonstrate that kahweol significantly inhibits the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells, and suggest that it has potential as a novel anti-obesity treatment.     

Rapid radiochemical separation and determination of chlorine,bromine and iodine in water samples using ion exchange

On the basis of tracer experiments, a simple and rapid radiochemical separation method for simultaneous determination of I^–, Br^– and Cl^– in one aliquot of a water sample (only 2–4 ml) has been developed. The method is based on short irradiation of the water sample and separation of the halogens using sequential ion exchange columns filled with Dowex 1×8, 100–200 mesh anionic resin prepared in I^–/I₂, Br^–/Br₂ and Cl^– form. After washing the columns with an appropriate volume of 2% NaCl solution, the resins were transferred to vials and activities of the isolated radionuclides¹²⁸I,⁸²Br and³⁸Cl measured together with standards in a well type or on a coaxial Ge detector connected to a Canberra 90 multichannel analyzer. Besides high chemical yields, from the -spectra of the isolated radionuclides, it is evident that high decontamination fac-The paper was presented at the MTAA-8, Vienna, September 1991.     

Determination of Caffeine Using a Simple Graphite Pencil Electrode with Square-Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

A simple commercial graphite pencil electrode (GPE) was utilized for monitoring caffeine using the square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) method. This method was applied to determine the caffeine levels in several tea samples, which yielded a relative error of 1% in the concentrations. Caffeine was deposited at 0.0V (vs. Ag/AgCl), then reduced at +1.40V to strip it on the GPE. Optimal experimental conditions for the analysis were found to be as follows: pH value of 9 for the medium; deposition potential of 0.0V; deposition time of 120s; SW frequency of 25Hz; SW amplitude of 45mV, and step potential of 6mV. Given these optimum conditions, a linear range was observed within the concentration of 0500mgL^–1. At caffeine concentrations of 50.0, 250.0, and 500.0mgL^–1, the relative standard deviations in measured concentrations (n=12) were 0.19, 0.09, and 0.11%, respectively. The detection limit was found to be 9.2mgL^–1, which is comparable with the result obtained using a carbon paste electrode, equivalent to 8.2mgL^–1.