Determination of selected chlorohydrocarbons and polyaromatic hydrocarbons by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in soils in Southwest Louisiana

The use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the determination of selected polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (anthracene and pyrene) and chlorohydrocarbons (hexachlorobutadiene and 1, 2, 4-trichlorobenzene) in soils from five areas in Southwest Louisiana was investigated. No detectable concentrations (below the detection limits) were found on or near the surface. However, trace levels of the PAHs were found at a depth in the 2 to 3 ft range below the surface levels.     

Determination and comparison of heavy metals in selected seafood, water, vegetation and sediments by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry from an industrialized and pristine waterway in Southwest Louisiana

Samples of crab, fish, sediments, vegetation and waters were collected from a pristine (Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge) and historically polluted (Bayou d'Inde) waterway in Southwest Louisiana. After sample preparation via microwave digestion to obtain a solution, cadmium, mercury, nickel and lead were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. A comparison of results showed that there was very little difference in concentrations for the four metals between the two areas, typically in the 10 μg/g range for crabs and fish, around 0.05 μg/mL or lower for waters, and somewhat higher for sediments and vegetation of around two to three times.     

基于微量热法的板蓝根提取方法和活性部位挑选

应用TAM Air微量热系统, 采用微量热法, 考察不同提取方法的板蓝根水煎液及其化学萃取部位在37 ℃时, 对大肠杆菌生长代谢的影响. 结合中医药理论, 分析板蓝根水煎液及其化学萃取部分的药效作用及其差异, 挑选板蓝根药材最佳的提取方法和抑菌最强的活性部位, 并采用试管稀释法求出抑菌活性最强部位的最小抑菌浓度(MIC). 结果表明微量热法可用于常用中药——板蓝根的提取方法和活性部位的挑选, 为进一步研究中药的药性基础提供了一种新的、快速灵敏的技术和方法.     

The chemical constituents from Schisandra propinqua var. intermedia

A new cinnamic acid monoterpenoid ester, intermedin C （1）, was isolated from the aerial parts of Schisandra propinqua var. interthedia. The structure of 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including extensive ^1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

A study of a crude oil spill site for selected metal concentrations remediated by a controlled burning in Southwest Louisiana

On August 17, 2002 an oil spill occurred at the Chevron Texaco No. 2 Bayou Tank Battery in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge, in Southwest Louisiana. The spill covered approximately 3.5 acres of the surrounding marsh. A controlled and in-situ burn of the oil was conducted on August 20, 2002 along with some post-burn “mopping up” on the following day. Within a few days after the burn the growth of new vegetation was observed. A year after the burn, the affected marsh seemed to be no different from the rest of the marsh in the area, as if no spill or burn ever occurred. Analysis of the oil from the No. 2 Bayou Tank Battery showed that there were very low (below detection limit of ICP-OES), if any, concentrations of selected trace metals. Soil cores and grass samples were taken on December15, 2003 and July 15, 2004 from the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge oil spill site for metal determination and compared to cores and grasses taken from the surrounding marsh and confirmed that there was no increase in concentration of any metal that was examined as a result of the oil spill or controlled burn.     

Two new diterpene and sesquiterpene from Pteris dispar

A new diterpene and a new sesquiterpene were isolated from Pteris dispar and identified on the basis of spectral data including 2D NMR.Compounds 1 and 2 showed potent cytotoxic activity against KB cell.     

Two new dammarane-type sapogenins from Gynostemma pentaphyllum

Two new sapogenins,named(20S,24R)-3β,20,21β,25-tetrahydroxy-21,24-cyclodammarane(1)and 3β-hydroxyetio-17β-dammaranic acid(2),were isolated from the alkaline hydrolysate of Gynostemma pentaphyllum saponins.Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Study of the influence of carboxymethylcellulose on the absorption of selenium (and selected metals) in a target plant

The aim of the present paper is the study of the influence of a polysaccharide (carboxymethylcellulose, CMC) on uptake by a target plant Lactuca sativa (LS) of selenium and some metals. LS was grown on a well characterized soil: such as, treated with 1.5 mg kg⁻¹ Se(IV) only and with two levels of CMC (3 and 30 mg kg⁻¹). Similar experiments were carried out by using Se(VI) instead of Se(IV). Uptake was evaluated through the quantification of total content of Se in dried leaves and roots by a suitable technique (graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry, instrumental neutron activation analysis and differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry). Results evidenced as the uptake of selenium was dependent on the form of selenium added to the soil: Se(VI) is accumulated much more then Se(IV) according to its lower toxicity and higher mobility. The simultaneous presence of CMC led to a lower selenium uptake in leaves, whereas no clear influence was evidenced in roots. Furthermore, the presence of CMC influenced also the mobility process (soil→plant) of several other metals: a lower content of them was detected in plants when CMC was present in the soil.     

Two new lanostane triterpenoids from Abies sachalinensis

The continuous chemical investigation on the ethyl acetate （EtOAc） soluble fraction of the MeOH extract afforded two new lanostane triterpenoid derivatives including one with a rearranged lanostane skeleton. They were identified as 3,4-seco-8-（14→13R）abeo-17,13-friedo-9β-lanosta-4（28）, 7,14（30）,24-tetraen-26,23-olide-23-hydroxy-3-oic acid （1） and 7,14-mariesa- dien-3oL-hydroxy-25-methoxy-26-oic acid （2）. Structural determination of these compounds were carried out by the spectral studies especially by the two digital （2D）-NMR and high-resolution MS experiences.     

New lignan glycosides from Glehnia littoralis

From the roots ethanol extract of Glehnia littoralis, two new lignan glycosides, named glehlinoside E （1） and F （2）, were obtained. Their structures were determined to be （-）-secoisolariciresinol 4-O-β-D-（6-O-feruloyl） glucopyranoside （1） and （-）- secoisolariciresinol 4-O-f-β-D-（6-O-caffeloyl） glucopyranoside （2） by analysis of their spectral data, respectively.     

New Pyrrolo[1,2-a]azepine Type Alkaloids from Stemona and Stichoneuron (Stemonaceae)

Summary. Three new pyrroloazepine type alkaloids, stichoneurines A and B and 6-hydroxycroomine were isolated from the lipophilic root extracts of Stichoneuron caudatum and Stemona tuberosa collected in Thailand together with the already known croomine, tuberostemonine, and tuberostemonine A. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including H/H-COSY, HMQC, and HMBC. Information on the relative stereochemistries and conformational behaviour was obtained by analysis of the NOESY spectra. The formation of pyrroloazepine alkaloids in the genus Stichoneuron is reported for the first time and supports its affiliation to the family Stemonaceae. The occurrence of two different types of alkaloids, of the tuberostemonine and croomine series, in different geographical provenances of Stemona tuberosa is of special chemosystematic interest and may contribute to a more natural species delimitation within that complex group.     

Phenolic compounds from the aqueous extract of Acacia catechu

From the aqueous extract of Acacia catechu,two new phenolic compounds(3R,4R)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4-hydroxycy-clohexanone (1) and(4R)-5-(1-(3,4-dihydrophenyl)-3-oxobutyl)-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one(2) were obtained.Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.Free-radical scavenging activities of them were evaluated.     

五味子中木脂素类成分的高效液相色谱-电喷雾质谱研究

采用液相色谱-电喷雾质谱联用(HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ)技术, 对北五味子与南五味子中木脂素类成分进行了系统研究. 通过HPLC-ESI-MS技术, 获得了相应化合物的保留时间、紫外光谱和分子量等信息, 利用电喷雾多级串联质谱技术(ESI-MSⁿ), 获得了相应化合物的结构信息. 研究结果表明, 北五味子与南五味子的主要木脂素成分除5个共有成分外其它成分差异较大, 并且其共有成分含量差别较大. 在此基础上, 建立了简便、快速的北五味子与南五味子药材分析鉴定的新方法.     

Use of atomic absorption spectrometry for the determination of metals in sediments in south-west Louisiana

The relatively recent introduction of atomic absorption spectrometry has produced a rapid and relatively inexpensive method for the determination of metal concentrations in a wide variety of samples. One such application is in the determination of metal concentrations in soils and sediments. Soils and sediments represent concentrated reservoirs for these metals that serve as sinks for introduced trace metals or can become environmental sources. The coastal zone of Louisiana provides a ‘living laboratory’ to investigate the mechanisms of transport, deposition, and dissolution of trace metals into this fragile environment. Investigations done in the coastal zone have found trace metals tend to concentrate near pollution inputs and sources and have not migrated to or significantly impacted the coastal zone of Louisiana. Common trace metals determined and their range of concentrations in coastal soil and sediments are chromium (10–30 ppm), copper (10–25 ppm), iron (0.6–2.1%), manganese (200–600 ppm), nickel (6–20 ppm), lead (8–20 ppm), and zinc (30–55 ppm).     

Qualitative and quantitative analyses of three bioactive compounds in different parts of Forsythia suspensa by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry

A high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) analytical method was developed to simultaneously detect and quantify three main distinctive compounds (forsythiaside, rutin and forsythin) in different parts of Forsythia suspensa (F. suspensa), an herbal medicine. This was the first report on the quantification of bioactive constituents in different parts of F. suspensa by HPLC-ESI-MS analytical method. The calibration curves of the three compounds showed good linearity (R² > 0.9994). The method was reproducible with intra- and inter-day variation less than 1.35% and 2.00%, respectively. The recovery of the assay was in the range of 98.27–101.07%. The results indicated that the developed assay could be considered as a suitable quality control method for this commonly used herbal medicine.     

Determination of volatile compounds in foliage of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea)

The Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) and balsam fir (Abies balsamea) are eastern North American conifers which have been infested by an exotic insect, the balsam woolly adelgid (BWA). BWA infestation has had particularly severe effects on Fraser fir, with up to 95% mortality rates at some sites, and is characterized by attack on mature trees only. The purpose of this research was to perform a chemosystematic study to evaluate whether differences in volatile chemical concentrations of various stands of fir were observed as a function of resistance to BWA infestation. The concentrations of volatiles were determined by a methylene chloride extraction procedure, followed by analysis by gas chromatography. First, comparisons were made of concentration levels of volatiles in Fraser and balsam fir foliage of seedlings, saplings, and mature trees. If a chemical provided resistance, one would expect higher volatile levels in the balsam foliage because of its greater resistance to BWA. Second, the volatile levels in Fraser fir saplings and mature trees at uninfested sites were compared to the levels in surviving Fraser fir saplings and mature trees at infested sites. For a compound that provided BWA-resistance, higher volatile levels would be expected at the infested site because of the greater resistance of the surviving trees. Lastly, the concentrations of volatiles in sapling foliage were compared to those in mature foliage, where higher levels of resistance-providing chemicals would be expected in the saplings. 3-Carene was shown to consistently follow the expected pattern for a compound that provides resistance against BWA and β-pinene followed the pattern for the majority of the comparisons. These results indicate that while maltol and total volatiles did not correlate with the expected pattern, 3-carene, and possibly β-pinene and sesquiterpenes may provide fir with defense against BWA infestation.     

Phytoconstituents from the rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica Salisb.

Phytochemical investigation of the chloroform extract of the rhizomes of Curcuma aromatica Salisb. (Zingiberaceae) yielded three new phytoconstituents characterized as n-heneitriacontan-14-one; n-pentatriacontan-5-one; 11α-cyclopentyl-n-decan-1-ol (curcumapentadecanol) along with the known compounds stigmasterol and n-nonacosan-1-ol. The structures of these phytoconstituents have been elucidated on the basis of structural data analysis and chemical reactions.     

Genome-wide computational analyses of microRNAs and their targets from Canis familiaris

By computational analyses, we identified 357 miRNA candidates from Canis familiaris genome, among which 300 are homology of characterized human miRNAs, the remains are not reported in any other animal. Of the 357 miRNA genes, 142 are organized into 53 clusters, and two clusters locate in the paternally imprinted region. These dog miRNAs may regulate more than 800 possible targets, which are involved in a wide range of cellular processes. Remarkably, miR-186 resides in the eighth intron of its target gene in the same orientation, suggesting a feedback regulation of miRNA on its host gene.     

Triterpene Glycosides from Cussonia paniculata. I. Isolation and Structure Determination of Glycosides A, B1, B2, C, D, G2, H1, and H2 from Leaves of Cussonia paniculata

The 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of β-sitosterol (1) and the known triterpene glycosides 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosides of oleanolic (2a) and ursolic (2b) acids and hederagenin (3), 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyranosideofoleanolic acid (4), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosides of oleanolic (5a) and ursolic (5b) acids and the newglycoside 28-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside of 23-hydroxyursolic acid (6) were isolated from leaves of Cussonia paniculata (Araliaceae). Their structures were established using chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy.__________Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 160–163, March–April, 2005.