Study on the Chemical Constituent from the Seed of Litchi chinensis Sonn.

Seed of Litchi chinensis Sonn. is a traditional Chinese medicine, having curative effects on gastric disease, diabetes,and relieving pain.[1] Two new compounds 4-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid butyl ester (1) and 3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid butyl ester (2), along with five known compounds: 5-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid butyl ester (3),[2] 3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid methyl ester (4),[3] n-butyl-1-β-D-fructopyranoside (5),[4] D-1-O-methylmyo-inositol (6)[5] and 1H-imidazole-2,3-dihydro-2-oxo-4-carboxylic acid methyl ester (7)[5] were isolated and purified from the ethanol extracts of the seed of L.chinensis Sonn. Their structures, shown in Figure 1, were elucidated by ESI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR, including 2DNMR spectroscopy.     

New Triterpenes from Siyekucai （Ixeris chinensis）

The whole plant of Ixeris chinensis Nakai (Compositae)1,2 was used as a folk medicine inChina for the treatment of bronchitis, pneumonia, pharyngitis, dysentery, and poisonousindigestion on the basis of its antifebrile, and analgesic effects. In previous …     

Genome Classification of Musa cultivars from Northeast India as Revealed by ITS and IRAP Markers

Genome classification of 38 banana cultivars found in northeast India was successfully carried out using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) techniques. The RsaI digestion of the ITS region revealed the composition of A genome in 32 cultivars and B genome in 29 cultivars. With the gypsy-IRAP marker, 33 cultivars were identified to be composed of B genome. The AluI digestion of the 420-bp PCR amplification product using copia-IRAP primer resulted in the identification of the ABB genome in 17 cultivars. Overall, the data obtained from 36 cultivars using the molecular markers were in accordance with the initial classification based on morphological characters except in two cultivars. The present findings provide the reliable information on the genome classification and the status of the existing banana genetic resources from the northeastern Indian region, which could be utilized in improvement and conservation programs.     

Phenolic profile of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) leaves cultivars grown in Portugal

In this study, phenolic compounds of hazelnut leaves of 10 different cultivars with the same cultural, geographical, geological and climatic conditions were analyzed by HPLC/DAD and HPLC/DAD/MS/MS - ESI. Eight phenolic compounds (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeoyltartaric acid, p-coumaroyltartaric acid, myricetin 3-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-glycoside, quercetin 3-rhamnoside and kaempferol 3-rhamnoside) were identified and quantified. All of the analyzed samples showed a similar phenolic profile, in which myricetin 3-rhamnoside and quercetin 3-rhamnoside were the major compounds and caffeoyltartaric and p-coumaroyltartaric acids were present in vestigial amounts.     

Determination of boron by the neutron depth profile (NDP) technique for VLSI processing application

Borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG) has been used for its improved reflow properties compared to low temperature oxide (LTO) in planar technology. Thin films of BPSG were deposited by a low-pressure chemical vapor deposition process. The boron content was determined by NDP. In addition from the NDP spectrum the depth profile of boron and the thickness of the film were also determined. In the NDP technique, samples, typically silicon wafers with 500 nm thick BPSG film, were exposed to a highly-thermalized neutron beam. Generated by the¹⁰B(n,)⁷ Li reaction, isotropically emitted monoenergetic particles of 1.47 MeV were counted in an evacuated in-beam analysis setup. The energy loss of the -articles in the film was proportional to the depth at which the nuclear reaction took place. The energy spectrum of the -articles, therefore, was a direct result of the boron depth profile, and the area under the curve was a measure of the total number of boron atoms in the film. This unique nuclear technique provided an excellent method for optimizing the composition of the BPSG film for device processing.     

Comparison of thoron (220Rn) content and gamma radiation level in high background radiation area of Kollam district in Kerala,India

In order to map the thoron prone areas of the coastal region of Kollam district, a well known HBRA of south India, comparative study of radon and thoron exhalation rate was conducted. The in situ measurement of radon and thoron exhalation has been taken. These studies were correlated with the gamma radiation level. The average value of thoron exhalation is found to 5.55 ± 1.35 Bq m⁻² s⁻¹ along the coastal areas and the radon exhalation rate is found to 107.6 ± 32 Bq m⁻² h⁻¹. The value of thoron exhalation was found 12 times greater than the global values in Neendakara and Chavara region and about 6 times greater in the Alappad region.

     

Isolation of glycinin (11S) from lipid-reduced soybean flour: effect of processing conditions on yields and purity

Defatted soybean flour was treated with hexane and ethanol to reduce lipid content and heated to inactivate lipoxygenase (LOX, linoleate:oxygen reductase; EC 1.13.11.12) to obtain lipid-reduced soybean flour (LRSF). The effects of processing conditions such as pH, reducing agent and storage time on yields and purity of glycinin (11S) were evaluated in the fractionation of soybean glycinin isolated from LRSF. Adjusting the pH of protein extract from 6.2 to 6.6, the yield of glycinin decreased by 16.71%, while the purity of the protein increased by 4.60%. Sulfhydryl and disulfide content of proteins increased by degrees with increasing pH. Compared with dithiothreitol (DTT) or β-mercaptoethanol (ME) as reducing agent, the yield of glycinin was the highest when sodium bisulfite (SBS) was added to the protein extract at pH 6.4. The effect of DTT on yields of glycinin was the lowest of the three kinds of reducing agent. The purity of glycinin was similar when the three kinds of reducing agent were used. These results showed that SBS was the best choice for the isolation of 11S-rich fraction. Prolonging storage time in the precipitation stage, 10 h was the best for yields and purity of glycinin in the experiment, while there was no significant difference at P ≥ 0.05 for total sulfhydryl and disulfide content. The decreased free sulfhydryl content of glycinin indicated that the oxidation of free sulfhydryls and the formation of disulfide bonds occurred when the extraction time was prolonged.     

Manufacture of high-strength composite materials from prepregs prepared by radiation processing

Scientific principles of the manufacture of high-strength heat-resistant polymer composite materials with the successive ionizing-radiation and heat treatment (via the step of long-lived prepregs) were developed. Methods for the selection of components for the preparation of long-lived prepregs, as well as for the determination of the optimal curing conditions, were proposed. The mechanical properties of the materials were studied.     

Removal of226Ra(II) from uranium mining and processing effluents

The activity of¹³⁷Cs was determined in mosses and their surrounding soils in three Venezuelan cloud forests. The concentration of¹³⁷Cs in both the mosses and their respective soils were correlated with elevation (m.a.s.l.). This relationship was the result of the cloud forest effect, no direct deposition by condensation below the base of the clouds and increasing deposition of¹³⁷Cs with the density of the clouds. The ratio of the activity of¹³⁷Cs in the mosses to their surrounding soils was in general the same for sites near the top of the mountains, but the ratio at the Altos de pipe location was 3.5 times higher than that of the La Sierra mountain. This was explained by the difference in the water content of the surface and the top soil layer. It was concluded that the¹³⁷Cs measured in the mosses was from the soil effect rather than new deposition of¹³⁷Cs in the last three years.     

Essential oil composition of two unique ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) cultivars from Sikkim

Volatile oils from two most popular cultivars from Sikkim namely, Bhaisa and Majulay, were isolated, characterised by analytical GC and GC-MS. Sixty constituents accounting for 94.9% and 92.6% of the Bhaisa and Majulay oils were identified. The major compounds of Bhaisa oil were geranyl acetate (18.8%), zingiberene (16.3%) and geranial (8.2%) and those of Majulay oil were zingiberene (19.8%) and geranial (16.5%). Compared to other ginger cultivar oils, the Bhaisa oil had higher content of oxygenated compounds (43.1%). This is the first report on the essential oils from Sikkim ginger cultivars.     

Structures of 4-aryl-coumarin (neoflavone) dimers isolated from Pistacia chinensis BUNGE and their estrogen-like activity

Activity-guided fractionation of twigs of Pistacia chinensis resulted in the isolation and characterization of two novel ingredients as potent estrogen agonists. On the basis of spectral analysis and comparison with a related compound their structures were elucidated as 3,3'-dimers of 4-aryldihydrocoumarins (3,4-dihydro-4-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-7-hydroxycoumarin) differing only in the stereochemical disposition of the linkage between the two 4-arylcoumarin moieties. These compounds are the first examples of bis-flavonoids which have been proven to possess estrogen-like activity.     

Disappearance of dislodgable residues of methomyl from leaves and vegetables in Tamilnadu (India)

The dislodgable residues of methomyl from leaves and vegetables were determined by a single-step methanol extraction followed by reversed-phase HPLC. The residues on the bhendi vegetables and leaves were several times higher than on the brinjal vegetables and leaves. The pesticide, however, dissipates rapidly under the South Indian climatic conditions resulting in undetectable residues within three days of spraying.     

Evaluation of natural gamma radiation and absorbed gamma dose in soil and rocks of Perambalur district (Tamil Nadu,India)

The activity concentrations and absorbed gamma dose of primordial radionuclides ²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K were determined employing γ-ray spectrometry in 31 soil samples from the land area earmarked for house construction in Perambalur district and 14 rock samples from quarries that supply stones for the entire district. The soil samples registered relatively a higher mean value of 13.2 Bq kg^?1 for ²³⁸U, 66 Bq kg^?1 for ²³²Th and 340.3 Bq kg^?1 for ⁴⁰K as compared to mean values for rock samples (²³⁸U—8.0 Bq kg^?1; ²³²Th—65.1 Bq kg^?1; ⁴⁰K—199.1 Bq kg^?1). The mean absorbed gamma dose rate for soil (61.4 nGy h^?1) marginally exceeded the prescribed limit of 55 nGy h^?1 while, rocks registered the mean absorbed gamma dose rate of 10.4 nGy h^?1. The mean radium equivalent activity was distinctly higher in soil (130.6 Bq kg^?1) than in rock (20.0 Bq kg^?1). However, these values were lower than the limit (370 Bq kg^?1) set by OECD for building materials. It is evident from the data that the soil and rocks do not pose any radiological risk for house constructions in Perambalur district.     

Effectiveness of radiation processing in elimination of Campylobacter from poultry meat

Campylobacter, a common poultry intestine commensal, is a well known cause of human gastric illnesses across the globe. Consumption of contaminated poultry meat is a major cause of Campylobacter related infections. In the present study, radiation sensitivity of indigenous strains of C. jejuni and C. coli isolated from poultry was evaluated. The decimal reduction dose (D₁₀) values of different Campylobacter isolates at 0-4 °C in saline and blood broth were in the range of 0.120-0.210 kGy and 0.170-0.234 kGy, respectively. D₁₀ values in chicken meat homogenate for Campylobacter were in the range of 0.110-0.190 kGy. Chicken meat samples were inoculated with C. jejuni and exposed to gamma radiation to study the effectiveness of radiation treatment in elimination of Campylobacter. Radiation treatment with a dose of 1 kGy could achieve complete elimination of 10⁵ CFU of Campylobacter/g in poultry meat samples. No recovery of Campylobacter was observed, even after enrichment and selective plating in 1 kGy treated chicken meat samples stored at 4 °C up to 7 days. Present study shows that irradiation of poultry meat with 1 kGy can ensure safety of poultry meat.     

Critical review of radiation processing of hydrogel and polysaccharide

Radiation processing of an aqueous solution of polymer initiated by OH radicals formed by radiolysis of water is applied for preparation of hydrogel wound dressing and plant growth promoter. Recently, Fenton reagent that generates OH radicals was successfully applied to synthesize PVP hydrogel. The Fenton reaction also can be applied to the depolymerization of chitosan. These progresses in the syntheses of hydrogel and oligo-chitosan by radiation and non-radiation methods such as hydrolysis, oxidative degradation, photolysis, sonolysis and degradation by microwave are reviewed to survey a possibility to reduce the costs of production. Radiation synthesized hydrogel should target value-added medical products because only radiation can crosslink and sterilize simultaneously. Oligo-chitosan can be produced economically by irradiation of solid chitin by Fenton reagent, if necessary.     

The effect of ionising radiation on poly(methyl methacrylate) used in intraocular lenses

Gamma radiation is increasingly being used to sterilise intraocular lenses (IOLs) made from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In this study, samples of PMMA used in the fabrication of IOLs were exposed to irradiation doses typically used for their sterilisation. The effect of this treatment on the polymer was analysed by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), UV-visible and infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The PMMA was found to have undergone chain scission, decarboxylation and colour change following the irradiation.